Both Sides of Par: Golf Podcast for Every Handicap

Golf Trolley Roundup (Push or Self-Driving?) PLUS pick the Yellow Tee on your Next Medal?

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:45:00 -0400

This week, Ross takes us through the highlights of playing the iconic Wentworth West Course, diving into his five favorite holes and what makes the experience special.

The boys also tackle a deep dive into modern golf trolleys, sharing tips and insights for anyone considering an upgrade.

Then they discuss whether you should take advantage of the WHS rules around using whatever tee suits you in competitions, and how that makes sense for smart golf.

Plus, hear about an incredible value open competition on the Isle of Arran and get an update on Ross's Cleveland wedges, featuring a new tip that could improve your short game instantly. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this episode is packed with stories, advice, and practical gear talk to help you enjoy your next round even more.

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Until next time—play smart, have fun, and see you on the fairways.

— Colin & Ross

A £5 Golf Drill, a 1-Under Round, and an Amazing Scottish Links Nobody Talks About

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:35:00 -0400

This week Colin and Ross catch up on a productive stretch of golf, with both of them quietly sliding down the handicap charts. Colin is dropping into the low twenties and threatening more cuts, while Ross casually drops in a one under round that takes him to 0.7, the sort of update only a low handicapper can deliver with a straight face 😆 Before any scorecards come out, there's a proper gear nerd-out: Colin has ditched fiddly towels and dropped gloves for a £5 figure-eight power band to keep his arms connected and rein in his flying elbows, and the pair compare notes on connection ball drills that mostly gather dust in the garage.

From there it's wedges and wisdom. Ross talks through his new cavity-back Cleveland wedges, the tighter gapping he's noticed, and a round that finished with two birdies in the last three holes, alongside an honest confession about misjudging a yardage because the front of an angled green sits closer than it looks. There's a genuinely useful run through formats too: why Ross loves match play while Colin shelters behind Stableford, how to actually use your shots rather than trying to beat better players off scratch, and a plain-English explainer of foursomes, four-balls and greensomes ahead of Colin and his brother Bruce teeing it up in the Royal Dornoch foursomes. Add a neat tip on cutting down a graphite shaft without shredding it and you've got a tidy little improvement toolkit.

The back half is a love letter to underrated Scottish golf. Colin reports back from Buckpool on the Moray Coast, a links he'd never heard of that served up blue skies, revetted bunkers, a couple of ugly early numbers, and the highlight of his comeback: team twos on the same par three. They land on a lovely point about value, namely that the gap between a hidden gem and a famous name is far smaller than the green fee suggests, with cracking courses going for £35 to £50.

Episode Highlights

🟢 The £5 fix for flying elbows: Colin's figure-eight power band that finally beat the towel and the dropped gloves

🟢 Ross shoots one under to reach 0.7, and explains how his new cavity-back Cleveland wedges tightened up his gapping

🟢 The angled-green yardage trap that cost Ross a shot, and why you should laser the pin rather than the front edge

🟢 Match play psychology: how to win by using your shots instead of trying to beat better players off scratch

🟢 Buckpool on the Moray Coast: back-to-back twos, revetted bunkers and proper links golf from as little as £35

Gear & Resources Mentioned

🟢 Power band connection trainer (figure-eight arm band), around £5, search "golf power band" on Amazon

🟢 Cleveland wedges (cavity-back 48, 54 and 58 degree) - https://www.clevelandgolf.com

🟢 TaylorMade Stealth driver and adapter shaft, with cheaper replacement shafts found on eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk

🟢 Scott Fawcett and DECADE course management, referenced on lag putting and the 50-foot three-putt - https://decadegolf.com

🟢 Buckpool Golf Club, Barhill Road, Buckie, Moray Coast - https://www.buckpoolgolf.com

🟢 Leven Thistle Golf Club at Leven Links, Fife - https://www.leventhistlegc.co.uk

🟢 Royal Dornoch Golf Club (the foursomes tournament) - https://www.royaldornoch.com

🟢 Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club, East Course, mentioned as a Solheim Cup venue with cut-price evening tee times

🟢 Both Sides of Par on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bothsidesofpar

🟢 Colin on TikTok and YouTube as Golfing Gray, search "Colin Gray golf"

Weekly Competitions

Leven Thistle Gents Open

Course: Leven Thistle Golf Club, played over Leven Links

Location: Leven, Fife, Scotland

Date: Saturday 8th August

Format: Gents individual singles stroke play, 18 holes

Cost: £40 for visitors, with coffee and a bacon roll included on arrival

Worth knowing: a former Open qualifying links with famously fast greens at this time of year, and early tee times around 7:30am were still showing as available. Entry is via the Leven Links booking site. The club also runs other well-priced opens through the season, including Four Ball Better Ball and Texas Scramble formats.

Chapter List

00:00 Welcome and handicap updates

00:01:41 Connection drills and the £5 power band

00:08:00 Ross's new Cleveland wedges and a one under round

00:12:09 The angled-green lesson: why the front number fools you

00:15:24 Weekly competition: Leven Thistle open

00:16:57 Favourite formats: match play, Stableford and scrambles

00:19:19 Match play psychology: play the shots, not the player

00:23:57 Foursomes, four-balls and greensomes explained

00:28:33 Driver control and cutting down a graphite shaft

00:31:50 Buckpool golf course report

00:36:48 Back-to-back twos: the highlight of the day

00:39:22 Hidden-gem value: brilliant golf for £35 to £50

00:43:04 Wrap-up and where to follow the show

How to Play the Old Course at St Andrews (Plus new tour balls & Machrahanish)

Mon, 25 May 2026 04:04:00 -0400

Colin's riding high this week after slashing his handicap from 28 down to 24, the result of a 19-over medal win at his home club. The secret? Putting the driver back in the bag, hitting five iron off every tee, and committing to the kind of smart, course-managed golf the lads have been preaching for months. Ross is on his own quiet roll too, knocking in four birdies across a casual nine-hole round by leaning into his countdown routine and pre-shot process. Both of them, somehow, playing better golf at the same time. Statistically suspicious.

From there the conversation pivots to the eye-watering cost of British golf, courtesy of UK Golf Guy's annual summer green fees report. Turnberry has hit a thousand pounds. Sunningdale is two grand for a fourball. The lads work through the numbers, get appropriately outraged, and then highlight one of the rare bright spots: St Andrews' "The Drive" ballot, which is putting Old Course rounds in front of Scottish residents for £45 and the Eden Course for a tenner.

Then it's gear time. Ross unboxes his new Cleveland RTZ and CBZ wedges with some interesting thinking on softer, lighter shafts. Ross then talks Colin through how to fill the gap between his pitching and sand wedge using a proper lob wedge and Dave Pelz's clock system, and they get into the disruptor brands shaking up iron and ball prices: Takomo, Vice, Kayleigh, Decathlon, Costco's Kirkland line, and Seed. There's a glowing review of the MotoCaddy M5 GPS trolley, a PGA Championship preview with the ball rollback debate fully unpacked, and a Machrihanish competition that's been on Colin's bucket list for years.

Episode Highlights

🟢 Colin's handicap cut from 28 to 24 after a 19-over medal win, all from ditching the driver and hitting five iron off every tee

🟢 The shocking math on UK green fees: the top 100 average has gone from £160 to £265 in five years, with Turnberry now £1,000 and Sunningdale £2,000 for a fourball

🟢 St Andrews' "The Drive" ballot, opening up Old Course rounds at £45 and the Eden Course at £10 for Scottish residents, a rare counterweight to soaring prices

🟢 Ross's deep dive on filling the wedge gap, including a proper breakdown of Dave Pelz's clock system and why pros take spin off rather than adding it

🟢 The disruptor brands worth knowing about, including Takomo, Vice, Kayleigh, Decathlon, Seed and Costco's Kirkland line, plus a tip on getting them custom fit after purchase

Gear & Resources Mentioned

🟢 UK Golf Guy summer green fees report: https://ukgolfguy.com

🟢 St Andrews Links "The Drive" ballot scheme (Old Course £45, Eden £10, Castle £23.75, etc): https://www.standrews.com

🟢 Scott Fawcett (referenced from last week's interview)

🟢 Cleveland RTZ wedge (58 degree) and Cleveland CBZ wedge (48 degree)

🟢 TaylorMade Stealth irons: https://www.taylormadegolf.com

🟢 Dave Pelz, "The Short Game Bible" (book)

🟢 Takomo irons (101 MkII): https://takomogolf.com

🟢 Vice Golf clubs and balls: https://www.vicegolf.com

🟢 Kayleigh Golf (Scottish brand, assembled in Scotland): https://caleygolf.com/

🟢 Decathlon golf irons: https://www.decathlon.co.uk

🟢 Costco Kirkland Signature golf clubs and balls: https://www.costco.co.uk

🟢 Seed Golf balls: https://www.seedgolf.co.uk

🟢 MotoCaddy M5 GPS electric trolley: https://www.motocaddy.com

🟢 Royal Dornoch Pairs Tournament: https://royaldornoch.com

🟢 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow

🟢 R&A and USGA ball rollback (set for 2028)

🟢 Both Sides of Par newsletter: https://bothpar.com

🟢 Get in touch: hello@bothpar.com

Weekly Competitions

Machrihanish Golf Club Texas Scramble

Saturday 19th September

Near Campbeltown, Argyll

Texas Scramble format (teams of four)

£80 per team (£20 per player)

36 handicap limit

One of Scotland's most spectacular and remote courses, and on Colin's own bucket list. Worth the long drive west.

Chapter List

00:00 Welcome and a shout-out to last week's Scott Fawcett interview

00:56 Colin cuts his handicap from 28 to 24 with a medal win

03:07 What worked: smart play, five iron off the tee, and consistent putting

05:55 The Texas wedge and lag putting from off the green

08:43 Ross's four-birdie nine holes and his countdown routine

12:33 UK Golf Guy's summer green fees report and the eye-watering numbers

18:33 St Andrews' "The Drive" ballot and affordable tee times

20:35 The Eden Course as a hidden gem and the aura of the Old Course

24:35 Colin's new Cleveland RTZ and CBZ wedges and the lighter shaft theory

28:06 Filling the wedge gap with a proper lob wedge

30:55 Dave Pelz's clock system and the case for three-quarter shots

34:43 Disruptor brands: Takomo, Vice, Kayleigh, Decathlon, Kirkland

39:53 Vice and Seed balls and the cost of losing Pro V1s

41:11 MotoCaddy M5 GPS trolley review

44:05 PGA Championship preview

45:14 The R&A and USGA ball rollback debate

47:41 Jordan Spieth's Grand Slam shot and Scheffler's US Open hunt

48:32 Weekly competition: Machrihanish Texas Scramble

49:31 Outro and how to get in touch

Why You're 3-Putting (And It's Not Your Stroke) with Golf Legend, Scott Fawcett

Mon, 18 May 2026 05:20:00 -0400

Colin and Ross sit down with Scott Fawcett, the brain behind the DECADE Course Management System and the man who caddied for a then unknown Will Zalatoris when he won the Texas Amateur and the US Junior back in 2014. Scott has worked in some capacity with roughly a third of the PGA Tour, holds three quantitative degrees, and once played pro golf himself, which is how he discovered the unromantic but inconvenient truth that the lads at the very top are not just better ball strikers, they are also far better thinkers. He brings all of that to a conversation pitched squarely at the two sides of the par.

Things kick off in the most heretical place possible: putting. Scott makes the case that leaving some putts short from fifteen feet and beyond is not a sin, it is maths, and that speed control alone fixes the vast majority of bad putting rounds. From there the conversation opens out into the full DECADE philosophy. Why the flag is the biggest distraction in golf, why bogey avoidance drives lower scores far more than chasing birdies (the fractional bogey idea alone is worth the price of admission), how Ross genuinely saved shots by swapping driver for a five wood off one tee at his home course, and how big your shot pattern actually is when you are honest about it, even on a Tour pro's sand wedge.

The chat rounds out with strategy from the trees (Scott's lovely framing of adversity versus opportunity), why nearly every Tour player now owns one shape off the tee rather than working it both ways, and the mental side of all of this, including Scott's confession that he used to be the worst hothead in professional golf. He finishes with his single biggest tip for the twenty plus handicap brigade, and it is simpler than you would expect.

Episode Highlights

🟢 Scott explains the maths of capture size and why hitting a putt two feet past the hole actually makes the cup 55% smaller, with stories from his Friday wolf game to back it up

🟢 The two foot circle drill: Scott's go to speed control practice routine from 20 to 30 feet, and the college player who fixed his three putt problem in a fortnight by doing nothing else

🟢 The Will Zalatoris hole in one at the US Open, where Scott was less interested in the shot itself and more interested in the fact that the flag was not Will's target. Seven yards right was

🟢 The fractional bogey theory: why a double is two and a half times worse than a bogey, not twice as bad, and why Scottie Scheffler's run of wins came mostly from bogey avoidance rather than extra birdies

🟢 Ross's real world example of swapping driver for a five wood off the back tee on a 340 yard par four at his home course, going from half a shot above par to making pars on average

🟢 Scott's one tip for higher handicappers in the closing minutes: have a very clear, visualised intention on every single shot, and be willing to say it out loud

Gear & Resources Mentioned

🟢 Scott Fawcett's DECADE Course Management System: https://decade.golf

🟢 DECADE Golf on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decade_golf

🟢 The DECADE app (available in the App Store)

🟢 DECADE Breaking 90, Scott's upcoming app aimed at 15 to 25 handicappers

🟢 Will Zalatoris, PGA Tour player and Scott's original guinea pig back in 2014

🟢 Mark Broadie's book Every Shot Counts, the foundational text on Strokes Gained

🟢 Raymond Floyd's book The Art of Scoring

🟢 Lou Stagner, Scott's go to source for amateur golf data

Chapter List

00:00 Welcome and intro to the show

00:34 Scott Fawcett joins Colin and Ross

01:25 Why leaving putts short isn't a sin

04:26 The college putting problem and capture size

07:18 The two foot circle drill for speed control

11:09 Cam Smith and the mindset of not trying to make putts

12:48 What DECADE actually stands for

16:14 The cardiologist analogy: is DECADE only for elites?

20:19 Course management for the mid 20s handicap

20:51 Why the flag is the biggest distraction in golf

25:07 Ross swaps driver for a five wood and saves shots

26:28 The fractional bogey theory

31:42 Should different handicaps approach the same pin differently?

34:33 Shot patterns and the 20 yard circle

37:39 Owning one shape off the tee, and the Rory question

43:06 Strategy in the trees: adversity or opportunity

49:01 The mental side of course management

55:18 Scott's one tip for the higher handicapper

58:48 Where to find Scott online

Portugal's Fastest Greens Left Us All Traumatised 😯 Plus Ross' 170mph ball speed

Mon, 11 May 2026 07:25:00 -0400

We'd love to hear your feedback - what can we improve about the show? What do you want to stay the same? Email us at: hello@bothpar.com

This week on Both Sides of Par, Colin reports back from a lads' golf trip to Portugal, where he tackled three courses near Cascais including the stunning Oitavos Dunes, a links-style track with greens so fast they left everyone slightly traumatised. Despite scores north of 100 (those courses were hard, OK?), Colin found himself putting smart golf strategy into practice for real, laying up with a trusty 7-iron from 200 yards during match play and actually winning his singles match. He even unleashed the driver on the final two holes and sent one 304 yards dead straight down the fairway!

Meanwhile, Ross has been quietly rebuilding his putting routine around a countdown technique he picked up from a sports psychologist. The idea is simple: count down from 10 as you walk to the ball, take your practice stroke at 5, and pull the trigger on 1. It sounds almost too easy, but a friend he played with recently commented on how relaxed his stroke looked, and Ross was sinking putts from all over the place. He has also been seeing real results from his winter speed training, getting his 8-iron ball speed up to 118-120 within just a few swings and accessing 165 ball speed with the driver comfortably. A pre-round warm-up routine involving a 5kg medicine ball, therabands, and arriving 45 minutes early is paying off in a big way.

The lads wrap up with this week's open competition at Cardross Golf Club near Glasgow, a course Ross describes as a mini Augusta, and put the call out for listener feedback on what they want to hear more of going forward. Email in at hello@bothpar.com.

Episode Highlights

🟢 Colin's Portugal golf trip review: three courses near Lisbon, including the spectacular Oitavos Dunes with its terrifyingly fast greens and stunning par 3s over cliffs and ravines

🟢 Smart golf in action: Colin laid up with a 7-iron from 200 yards on six to eight holes during match play, saved strokes, and won his singles match against a 6-handicapper

🟢 Ross's 10-to-1 countdown putting routine: a simple mental technique that blocks out overthinking, keeps you calm, and has transformed his consistency on the greens

🟢 Speed training gains: Ross can now access 170+ ball speed within 10-12 balls and his 8-iron ball speed has jumped from 112 to 118-120, all thanks to consistent winter work and a med ball warm-up

🟢 Colin pulls the driver out after keeping it in the bag all day and smashes it 304 yards straight down the middle, outdriving a 5-handicap playing partner

Gear & Resources Mentioned

🟢 Oitavos Dunes Golf Course, Cascais, Portugal - oitavosdunes.com

🟢 Campos de Golf Peña Longa, Sintra, Portugal - penhalonga.com

🟢 Club de Golf Quinta da Marinha, Cascais, Portugal - quintadamarinha.com

🟢 TaylorMade Stealth Driver (Colin's current driver)

🟢 5kg Medicine Ball (bouncing type, for pre-round warm-up)

🟢 Therabands (for range warm-up stretches)

🟢 Claude Tarmann - mentioned for course management and smart golf strategy

🟢 Ryan Chrysler - mentioned alongside smart golf strategy discussion

🟢 Mark Immelman Podcast - referenced for a sports psychologist episode on the countdown technique for clearing your mind

🟢 Cardross Golf Club - cardrossgolfclub.co.uk

🟢 Windy Hill Golf Club - mentioned alongside Cardross, with pro David Orr praised for junior and ladies development

🟢 Blinkby Golf Podcast - Ross's other podcast, mentioned in connection with David Orr

Weekly Competitions

Cardross Golf Club is this week's open pick. Located just over the Erskine Bridge, northwest of Glasgow, Ross calls it a mini Augusta and says he has never heard anyone say a bad word about the place. The open takes place on Saturday 13th June, it is a pairs event with a handicap limit of 25.8 and costs £35 per person (£70 per pair). A great excuse to grab a mate, play a beautiful course, and maybe win a prize.

Chapter List

00:00 Welcome to Both Sides of Par

02:35 Colin's Golf Trip to Portugal

05:20 The Three Courses: Peña Longa, Oitavos Dunes and Quinta da Marinha

07:37 Oitavos Dunes: Stunning Par 3s and Lightning-Fast Greens

09:26 Playing in the Wind: Ross's Simple Low Shot Technique

15:19 Ryder Cup Style Match Play in Portugal

16:52 Smart Golf in Action: Laying Up with a 7-Iron from 200 Yards

21:16 Scores, Slope Ratings and Managing Expectations on Foreign Courses

25:29 Colin Unleashes the Driver: 304 Yards Straight

27:52 Portugal Course Reviews and Recommendations

30:21 Ross's Early Season Form: Process Over Results

32:36 The Countdown Putting Routine: 10 Down to 1

39:06 Speed Training Progress and Ball Speed Gains

42:38 The Pre-Round Med Ball Warm-Up Routine

44:09 Open Competition: Cardross Golf Club

46:40 Listener Feedback and Sign Off

Why Ross Left the Driver in the Bag on Every Par 5 (And Shot Level Par)

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:58:00 -0400

Colin and Ross are back with a spring-in-the-air episode that finds both of them actually getting outside for a change (Scotland hitting double figures apparently counts as tropical). Colin, flying the flag for the high handicappers, reports back on the swing drills he's been grinding through at home, specifically the towel-under-the-armpits connection drill and the now-infamous chair-behind-the-backside drill to stop his Elvis-style hip thrust. Spoiler: both feel deeply, profoundly weird, but Ross talks him through why forcing the extreme is actually the point. Colin is also off to Portugal for his annual British Invitational, sporting a freshly chopped handicap of 21, and he's wrestling with the classic dilemma of whether to bring his half-built new swing on holiday or just leave it in the suitcase.

Ross then walks through his first medal of the year, played in 25mph winds on firm greens, where he managed level par by fully committing to his pre-shot routine and, more importantly, his new Claude Harmon-inspired par 5 strategy. Three-wood off every par 5 with water, including a 605-yarder, and somehow he got inside 100 yards for his third shot every single time without a driver in hand. He breaks down the whole thing hole by hole, along with his full pre-shot routine (diaphragm breathing and all) for Colin to nick. There's also a proper dive into travel bags for flying with clubs, the new Cleveland wedges Ross is waiting on, and a rundown of pairs comps they're eyeing up around Dumfries and Galloway, Southerness, and the brilliant-sounding Spey Bay summer solstice event where you can tee off at 4am.

The back half is pure Masters chat. Both lads watched most of it, loved the finish, and get into Rory's near-collapse, Justin Rose's missing intensity compared to last year, the mixed feelings about Cam Young and Scheffler's robotic energy, and Shane Lowry's hole-in-one that Sky replayed roughly every twenty minutes. They close out with the Colville Park open and Colin getting very excited about the new season of Full Swing landing the next day.

Episode Highlights

🟢 Why the chair-behind-the-bum drill feels like being in a straight jacket, and why Ross reckons that's exactly the point when you're trying to kill a swing fault

🟢 Ross's full par 5 masterclass, including why three-wood off a 605-yard hole left him wedging in for his third shot (and how driver had been costing him for years on the same hole)

🟢 A proper step-by-step walkthrough of Ross's pre-shot routine, from the practice swing behind the ball through the diaphragm breathing to the open-shoulder alignment trick

🟢 The travel bag rabbit hole, hard cases versus soft cases versus the hybrid Amazon special Colin took a punt on for his Portugal trip

🟢 Masters post-mortem, including the Cam Young emotionless debate, why Justin Rose looked flat compared to last year, and Shane Lowry's 7th at Pebble and 17th at Sawgrass hole-in-one collection

Gear & Resources Mentioned

🟢 Claude Harmon's podcast, referenced for his par 5 strategy advice about removing stress and big numbers, available at most podcast platforms: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/son-of-a-butch-with-claude-harmon/id1561803455

🟢 Cleveland Golf wedges, which Ross has on order https://www.clevelandgolf.com

🟢 Southerness Golf Club in Dumfries and Galloway, former Open qualifying venue https://www.southernessgolfclub.com

🟢 Spey Bay Golf Club and their summer solstice exhibition weekend on June 21st, with tickets from £180 to £300 https://www.speybaygolfclub.com

🟢 Royal Dornoch (the Struie course), mentioned from a previous trip https://royaldornoch.com

🟢 Gatehouse, Kirkcudbright, and Dalbeattie courses in the Dumfries and Galloway area

🟢 Full Swing on Netflix, new season landing the day after recording

🟢 The towel-under-the-armpits drill for swing connection and the chair-behind-the-backside drill for early extension

🟢 Both Sides of Par website and email https://bothpar.com and hello@bothpar.com

Weekly Competitions

🟢 Colville Park Golf Club Open, Motherwell, Sunday 2nd August. A James Braid designed course with a tough opening stretch including a 200-yard par 3 and a couple of 400-yarders. 28 handicap limit, £15 per person. Format not specified on the show, contact the club for details https://www.colvilleparkgolfclub.com

Chapter List

00:00 Intro and who's actually the high handicapper

01:30 Swing drill update, towels, gloves and the chair behind the bum

07:30 Portugal trip prep and the British Invitational

11:45 Ross's first medal of the year in 25mph winds

14:00 Par 5 strategy, three-wood everywhere and removing the stress

20:30 Pre-shot routine broken down step by step

25:30 Indoor sims, Inverness update and winter practice

27:30 Travel bags for flying with clubs

30:45 Cleveland wedges incoming

31:30 Planning pairs comps, Dumfries & Galloway and Spey Bay solstice

35:30 Masters recap, Rory, Rose and the Saturday wobble that never came

40:00 Cam Young, Scheffler and the emotionless player debate

42:00 Shane Lowry's hole-in-one collection

44:00 Colville Park weekly open

45:15 Full Swing season drop and sign off

What it takes to get to Scratch (& the wedge bounce world record!)

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:40:00 -0400

In this episode of Both Sides of Par, Colin and Ross bring in a special guest, Bruce, for a deep dive into golf from every angle of the handicap spectrum. What starts as a casual catch-up turns into a fascinating journey through golf-mad childhoods, living on top of legendary courses, and the bizarre paths that lead players from early obsession to scratch (and beyond).

They swap stories about growing up surrounded by golf at places like Lahinch, obsessively grinding (or avoiding grinding) through the teenage years, and the reality of chasing elite handicap levels in competitive Scottish golf culture. From bouncing balls on wedges for hours to brutal club match formats and the elusive journey from scratch to plus, it’s part nostalgia, part insight, and all golf chaos in the best way.

A relaxed, funny, and surprisingly deep look at what shapes golfers — and why no two journeys ever look the same.

I gave AI my golf swing data & it diagnosed everything!

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:23:00 -0400

Colin and Ross are back with a practice-heavy episode that covers everything from AI assisted swing diagnosis to the ongoing plague of slow play in modern golf. Colin kicks things off by sharing his weekend project of rigging up a massive monitor in his shed so he can actually see his launch monitor data while hitting balls. He then walks through the results of feeding all his swing data into Claude AI and getting back a proper diagnosis. Turns out he's been steepening the club halfway back and recovering with some Elvis style hip thrusts, which explains the two way miss pattern that's been haunting him. Ross plays the role of curious coach throughout, asking all the right questions about what goes wrong and how it shows up on the course.

Ross shares his own progress with the drills from Scott Borman, including a hilarious moment where he realised he'd been aiming 50 yards right of the green after changing his foot position. Colin has a matching story about training himself to aim 30 yards right because of a fence post on his practice mat, proving that even with all the tech in the world, the basics will humble you every time. The lads then get into a proper rant about slow play on the PGA Tour after Matt Fitzpatrick called out his playing partners, which spirals nicely into how recreational golf has slowed from three hours 45 to four and a half hours and what that's doing to club culture.

They wrap up with Ross teasing next week's topic on proper pre round warm up routines involving medicine balls and Therabands, plus a weekly competition recommendation that's a lot easier on the wallet than the £600 Dornoch entry they mentioned off camera.

Episode Highlights

🟢 Colin's DIY outdoor practice setup using a spare monitor, extension cables, and a shed, giving him full launch monitor visibility without dragging a laptop outside every time

🟢 A complete breakdown of early extension, including how to spot it in your own swing using nothing more than a chair or an alignment stick behind your backside

🟢 Chris Ryan's pitching wedge heel drill that gives you an instant visual cue when you're thrusting forward in the downswing

🟢 Ross's back to basics alignment fix after realising he was aiming 50 yards right of the flag despite all his recent coaching work

🟢 A proper discussion on slow play, Matt Fitzpatrick calling out his playing partners, and how etiquette habits like bag placement can save you 10 minutes a round

Gear & Resources Mentioned

🟢 GS Pro launch monitor software - https://gsprogolf.com

🟢 Swing Coach app for swing analysis and numerical scoring of swing faults - https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/swing-coach-golf/id6739074629

🟢 Claude AI - used by Colin as a personal golf coach project - https://claude.ai

🟢 Chris Ryan Golf on YouTube - source of the pitching wedge heel drill - https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisRyanGolf

🟢 Scott Borman - Ross's coach providing ongoing lesson drills

🟢 Trackman Range and Trackman app - https://www.trackman.com

🟢 Medicine ball and Therabands for pre round warm up routines

🟢 Matt Fitzpatrick's Valspar Championship win and Players Championship interview on slow play

🟢 Full Swing on Netflix - where Colin first got to know Matt Fitzpatrick

🟢 Royal Birkdale - referenced for their on course pace of play clock system

Weekly Competitions

🟢 Burntisland Golf Club Gents Open

🟢 Location: Burntisland, Fife, Scotland

🟢 Date: 1st August

🟢 Format: Gents Open with a handicap limit of 28

🟢 Cost: £20 entry, described as roughly 50% off the standard green fee

Chapter List

00:00 Welcome and cold snap golf frustrations

01:28 Colin's outdoor monitor and launch monitor setup

03:33 Feeding swing data into Claude AI for a full diagnosis

04:22 The steep backswing and early extension explained

06:30 Breaking down the two way miss

08:46 Connected takeaway drills with towels and gloves

11:14 Feet together swings

12:04 The chair and alignment stick drill for hip thrust

14:00 Chris Ryan's pitching wedge heel drill

18:00 Setting a two month practice plan and measuring progress

20:15 Ross's speed training update with Scott Borman

24:37 Teasing next week's pre round warm up topic

26:24 Matt Fitzpatrick wins and calls out slow play on the PGA Tour

30:01 How slow play is killing club culture

35:15 Ready golf, etiquette, and bag placement habits

38:24 Ross's 50 yard alignment disaster

41:01 Colin's fence post aiming story

43:14 Weekly competition: Burntisland Gents Open

How to Cut Strokes by Thinking Smart on the Golf Course (& Trying to Qualify for the Open!)

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:36:00 -0400

As the weather finally turns and the golf season edges closer, Colin and Ross dive into the excitement (and frustrations) of getting back on the course after a long, wet winter. They chat about early-season conditions, upcoming competitions, and the reality of shaking off rust.

Ross shares insights from a recent lesson and opens up about the challenge of managing emotions on the course - highlighting how mindset can make or break a round. The conversation also turns to goal-setting for the year, including a big ambition: Open Qualifying.

A mix of practical strategy, honest reflection, and pre-season optimism - perfect for any golfer gearing up for the months ahead.

Inside the Srixon Factory: How Custom Golf Clubs Are Really Made

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:08:39 -0400

In this episode of Both Sides of Par, Ross takes Colin behind the scenes of a visit to the European headquarters of Srixon. From walking into a building covered in a giant image of Shane Lowry to seeing signed tour bags from Hideki Matsuyama, the experience felt like a golfer’s version of Willy Wonka’s factory.

Ross shares what actually happens inside a professional custom-fitting facility: how shafts, grips, and club heads are selected, how swing characteristics affect the build, and how thousands of custom orders from across Europe are assembled every week. The conversation dives into the surprising amount of detail that goes into matching a golf club to a player’s swing, from shaft stiffness and length to lie angles and materials.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens after a club fitting—or how tour-level equipment gets built—this episode pulls back the curtain on the process and the people behind it.

Why Winter Golf Separates the Thinkers from the Hitters

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:16:00 -0400

This week on Both Sides of Par, Colin and Ross explore what really happens to your golf game during the winter months — and why the cold, wet season might actually be your biggest opportunity to improve.

From course closures and muddy fairways to the unseen importance of drainage systems, they unpack why some courses survive heavy weather while others struggle. There’s also a deeper look at how course design and maintenance influence play far more than most golfers appreciate.

Alongside that, they discuss smart ways to practice when conditions aren’t ideal, and how focusing on the right areas now can pay off massively when spring arrives.

If you’ve ever wondered why your local course floods, why temporary greens appear, or how to keep progressing when the weather’s against you — this episode is packed with insight, realism, and practical takeaways.

Rain, Drainage & Practice Gains – The Hidden Side of Winter Golf

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 17:50:00 -0400

In this episode of Both Sides of Par, Colin and Ross tackle the realities of winter golf in the UK - relentless rain, course closures, and why some layouts cope far better than others.

They dive into the often-overlooked science of golf course drainage, sharing insights from a greenkeeper’s perspective and exploring why what’s beneath your feet matters more than most golfers realise.

Plus, they get into this week’s practice focus, discussing how everyday golfers can make meaningful improvements even when the weather (and the course conditions) aren’t playing ball.

Whether you’re battling clay-based fairways or lucky enough to play on free-draining sand, this episode is all about understanding the game beyond the scorecard - and finding ways to keep progressing, whatever your handicap.

Why Hitting Fewer Balls Could Transform Your Golf Practice Sessions

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:46:30 -0400

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On today's episode:

Why Hitting Fewer Balls Could Transform Your Practice Sessions
The £15 Training Aid That's Actually Worth Using (SimStick Review)
How One Scottish Course Uses Dramatic Elevation to Create Unforgettable Holes
Winter Golf Tournament Formats That Keep You Motivated Through the Dark Months

Colin and Ross kick off the episode with Colin sharing his exciting move to Muir of Ord Golf Course on the Black Isle. He's particularly drawn to their winter tournament series—a weekly Sunday competition running through the coldest months where players accumulate Stableford points for a season trophy. The course itself sounds like a gem, with two distinct halves separated by a railway track: one side relatively flat with interesting tree-lined doglegs, the other featuring dramatic elevation changes including two par threes with 50-100 foot drops and one hole that climbs back up, leaving Colin baffled about club selection even though it's barely 100 yards.

The conversation shifts to Ross's recent revelation about practice quality. After struggling with consistency despite logging plenty of range hours, he's discovered that hitting 30-40 intentional shots beats mindlessly working through 100 balls. This sparks a discussion about the SimStick—a simple but effective training aid that's been helping both hosts work on swing path and strike quality. They compare it to alternatives like the Divot Board and Tour Striker Smart Ball, debating the merits of each for different aspects of practice. Colin admits he's still getting value from working through strike issues with his irons, while Ross emphasizes how the SimStick provides immediate feedback without the faff of more complex training tools.

The episode wraps with a chat about golf balls (Colin's experiment with Srixon Q-Star Divide's half-orange, half-yellow design mostly taught him that new balls just feel nice, even if they don't actually perform differently), before Ross shares two fantastic competition opportunities in Cornwall. Both are on Sunday, May 24th: an open at the stunning coastal Carlion Bay for just £27, and a 36-hole better ball at West Cornwall Golf Club in St Ives for £120 per pair. The lads make a compelling case for a spring golf trip to England's southwest corner.

00:00 Introduction and welcome

03:30 Colin's new club at Muir of Ord

08:45 Winter tournament format and course description

15:20 Muir of Ord's dramatic elevation changes

19:10 Ross's practice quality breakthrough

26:35 SimStick training aid discussion

34:50 Comparing training aids: SimStick vs Divot Board vs Smart Ball

41:15 Golf ball chat and Srixon Q-Star Divide experiment

45:00 Cornwall competitions: Carlion Bay and West Cornwall Golf Club

Stealth vs QI 35, Impact Stickers, and Staying Calm When Your Round Wobbles

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:13:00 -0400

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Colin and Ross kick off with another cracking competition find – a three-person team event at Cleveland Golf Club in Yorkshire that has Colin planning a road trip from Newcastle to Edinburgh. Both lads are sporting their new Druids ambassador gear and share first impressions (spoiler: impressed, especially for the price). Colin finally retired his 20-year-old Cleveland Launcher after his son broke it, and a trip to the local shop turned into a TaylorMade Stealth purchase – the numbers were just too good to ignore, even if it didn't feel quite as sweet as the QI 35. Ross, meanwhile, is fully committed to Ping life and loving his G430 LST driver after some early teething issues.

The practice chat is gold this week. Ross put Episode 4's mental game advice into real action during a one-under round, proving that staying calm mid-wobble actually works. Colin discovered through impact stickers that he's been addressing his driver wrong for years – a simple six-inch step back fixed his heel strikes entirely. Ross talks speed training progress (174 ball speed, not bad), and they wrap up chatting about watching golf on TV. Full Swing gets a strong recommendation if you haven't seen it yet.

Episode Highlights

🟢 Colin tests two drivers in-store and goes with feel vs numbers – the TaylorMade Stealth wins despite not feeling as "sweet" because it added 20 yards

🟢 Ross applies the mental game strategies from Episode 4 during a real round and shoots one under, proving the mindset work actually pays off

🟢 Impact stickers reveal Colin's been hitting off the heel for years – a simple setup change fixes it instantly

🟢 Both hosts unbox their Druids ambassador packs and share honest first impressions on quality vs price

🟢 Speed training update: Ross is back up to 174 ball speed and 118.5 club head speed after some winter rust

Gear & Resources Mentioned

🟢 Cleveland Golf Club, Yorkshire – the only true natural links in Yorkshire, bookable online https://www.clevelandgolfclub.co.uk

🟢 Happy Golf – competition search tool Ross used to find the three-person event https://www.happygolf.co.uk

🟢 Druids Golf – affordable golf clothing brand, ambassador packs available https://www.druidsgolf.com

🟢 TaylorMade Stealth Driver – Colin's new driver purchase with adjustable weight and loft

🟢 TaylorMade QI 35 Driver – tested but not purchased, very forgiving feel

🟢 Ping G430 LST Driver – Ross's current driver choice

🟢 Ping G425 3-Wood – Ross's fairway wood, highly recommended

🟢 Inverness Golf Centre – local shop with Trackman fitting bay

🟢 How Did I Do – online booking system used by many UK golf clubs https://www.howdidido.com

🟢 Impact Stickers – strike location training aid for club faces

🟢 Trackman – launch monitor used for fitting and speed training

🟢 Therabands – resistance bands for golf warm-up and flexibility

🟢 Full Swing (Netflix) – golf documentary series, highly recommended https://www.netflix.com/title/81483353

🟢 Golfing Gray YouTube Channel – Colin's channel with Druids unboxing video coming soon

Weekly Competitions

🟢 Cleveland Golf Club – Redcar, Yorkshire

The only true natural links course in Yorkshire, right on the waterfront. Ross found this three-person team event perfect for Colin's family golf trip with his dad and brother.

Format: Three-person team event

Cost: £22 per visitor

Booking: Online via How Did I Do through the club website

Access: Two train changes from Inverness, one change from most mainline stations. Airbnb options available nearby including beachfront accommodation.

Chapter List

00:00 Welcome to Both Sides of Par

00:50 Competition Challenge: Finding a Three-Person Team Event

03:30 Planning a Golf Road Trip: Cleveland to Edinburgh

05:25 Druids Ambassador Pack Unboxing and First Impressions

10:50 Colin's Driver Upgrade: TaylorMade Stealth vs QI 35

18:15 Ross's Ping G430 LST Driver Update

21:50 Mental Game Breakthrough: Staying Calm Mid-Round

27:45 Tiger Woods' "Box" Technique for Managing Emotions

30:00 Putting Practice Games and Scoring Systems

31:05 Impact Stickers: Finding Your Strike Pattern

35:45 Speed Training Progress and Trackman Sessions

39:40 Watching Golf on TV: What's Worth Your Time

43:15 Full Swing Netflix Documentary Recommendation

45:30 The PGA vs LIV Discussion

50:40 Listener Feedback Request and Outro

New Clubs, AI Caddies & the Tech That's Changing How We Practice

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:06 -0400

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Colin and Ross brave the Scottish winter to discuss everything from broken driver faces to AI-powered golf coaches. Colin shares his experience switching from TaylorMade to Ping after his QI35 driver gave up the ghost (again), while Ross opens up about creative ways to practice when you're snowed in. The duo dives deep into golf technology—from rangefinders and GPS watches to AI swing analysis apps that could change how you practice. Plus, Ross shares a brilliant story about staying in the Gary Player Suite at Carnoustie for just £50, and they discuss why measuring outcomes beats obsessing over swing mechanics.

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome & Weather Update

03:30 - Carnoustie Course Review & The £50 Gary Player Suite Story

08:50 - New Club Review: Switching from TaylorMade to Ping

18:45 - Winter Practice Tips & Putting Mat Games

26:30 - Golf Tech on the Course: Rangefinders, Watches & Apps

34:30 - AI in Golf: Caddies, Rules & Swing Analysis Apps

41:30 - Competition Corner: Team Events Worth Entering

46:45 - Wrap-Up

The Putting Practice Drill That Actually Works & Two Scottish Opens Worth Entering

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:02:00 -0400

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Ross and Colin check in on their golf weeks, with Ross bringing tales of solid scoring at his home course Wokefield—carding a couple under and one under par despite a few mid-round wobbles. Meanwhile, Colin admits to a complete golf drought this week, not even picking up a club, which naturally leads into a candid conversation about the eternal struggle of building practice into daily routines when motivation runs low.

The lads dig into winter golf realities, from muddy lies and temporary tees to the ongoing debate about whether courses down south use mats on fairways (spoiler: they mostly don't need to). Ross shares his latest putting practice revelations, including a structured drill he's borrowed from the internet that's transformed his green-reading approach. They also tackle the mysteries of the World Handicap System—breaking down course ratings, slope, and why your handicap behaves differently on easier versus tougher tracks.

The episode wraps with Ross presenting two absolute belters for competition lovers: Brora Golf Club's five-day open in August and Tain Golf Week's various formats. The conversation touches on everything from Ross's mental approach to scoring rounds, to Colin's quest for better practice habits, to whether five consecutive days of golf would leave you knackered or energized.

Episode Highlights

🟢 Ross shoots two under par at Wokefield and reveals his secret to not letting mid-round mistakes derail the score—finishing with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18

🟢 Colin opens up about struggling to build golf practice into his routine and the conversation explores practical approaches to habit-building when motivation is lacking

🟢 Deep breakdown of how the World Handicap System actually works—course rating, slope index, and why your handicap changes based on the difficulty of the course you're playing

🟢 Ross shares a structured putting practice drill he found online that combines distance control, green reading, and scoring to create meaningful practice sessions

🟢 The reality of playing five consecutive days of golf during competitions and whether it's exhausting or exhilarating (Ross has done it and shares his experience)

Gear & Resources Mentioned

🟢 Wokefield Golf Club, Reading (Ross's home course)

🟢 broragolfclub.co.uk (Brora Golf Club website for five-day open competition)

🟢 tain-golfclub.co.uk (Tain Golf Club website for golf week competitions)

🟢 World Handicap System (WHS) resources for understanding course rating and slope

🟢 Royal Dornoch Golf Club (mentioned in context of Ross's previous five-day golf trip)

🟢 Lanark Golf Course (played on Ross's trip to Scotland)

🟢 Brora Bridge and Castle Highland courses (mentioned from Ross's Scotland trip)

Weekly Competitions

🟢 Brora Golf Club Five Day Open

Location: Brora, Scotland

Date: August 3-7

Format: Five-day competition with match play stages and guaranteed rounds even if knocked out

Cost: £190 for visitors

🟢 Tain Golf Week

Location: Tain, Scotland

Dates: Available on website

Format Options: Four-day competition (£90), Ladies two-day (£25 per person)

Website: tain-golfclub.co.uk

Chapter List

00:00 Intro and Weekly Golf Recap

03:00 Ross's Scoring Rounds at Wokefield

08:00 Winter Golf Conditions and Course Setup

14:00 Competition Practice vs Casual Rounds

19:00 Ross's Putting Practice Drill

29:00 Understanding the World Handicap System

38:00 Course Rating, Slope, and Handicap Calculations

45:00 Colin's Practice Routine Struggles

48:00 Building Better Practice Habits

50:00 Weekly Competitions: Brora and Tain

54:00 Listener Feedback Request and Wrap-Up

Back Nine Strategy Secrets, Putting Practice Setups & Why Teenagers Sleep on Fairways

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:04:00 -0400

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Colin and Ross kick off this week's episode with Colin fresh off the course after sneaking in seven holes at Inverness Golf Club during a rare sunny winter morning. The lads dive into an interesting discussion about playing the back nine more often than the front nine - something Ross did religiously when he first joined his club, inadvertently creating a massive advantage when it came to course management on those holes. Colin shares a hilarious accidental GoPro capture of his teenage son literally sleeping on the fairway mid-round, which perfectly sums up the reality of playing golf with teenagers.

The conversation shifts into serious practice territory as both hosts get deep into their winter training routines. Ross walks Colin through his impressive home putting setup, covering everything from basic putting mats to high-tech options like PuttView that can adjust green speeds and simulate slopes. They discuss the merits of putting mirrors for checking eye position and shoulder alignment, debate whether you need to spend big money on practice equipment (spoiler: you don't), and explore how to build an effective practice routine when you can't get out on the course. Ross even reveals his DIY approach to creating realistic practice putting greens at home, including cutting the actual shape of putts into carpet.

The episode wraps with Ross giving a quick plug for the Royal Deeside Golf Week coming up in July 2026 - a 72-hole stableford event across four stunning Scottish courses including Aboyne, Ballater, Banchory, and Braemar. It's the perfect blend of practical winter practice advice, relatable golf stories, and inspiration for future golf trips.

Episode Highlights

🟢 Ross reveals why playing the back nine three times as much as the front nine at his club gave him a massive course management advantage - and how you can use the same strategy to lower your scores

🟢 Colin accidentally captures his 13-year-old son literally sleeping on the fairway with a GoPro he forgot to turn off - the most relatable teenage golf moment ever

🟢 Detailed breakdown of Ross's home putting practice setup, from basic £15 mirrors to high-tech PuttView systems that simulate real green conditions and slopes

🟢 The truth about expensive practice equipment - why you don't need to break the bank to build an effective winter practice routine at home

🟢 Ross's DIY putting green hack: cutting the actual shape of breaking putts into your carpet to create realistic practice scenarios without spending thousands on synthetic greens

Gear & Resources Mentioned

🟢 PuttView - High-tech putting training system with app integration, slope adjustment, and green speed simulation

🟢 Putting Mirrors - Available from £10-20 on Amazon, Putt Out version around £20 for checking eye position and shoulder alignment

🟢 Putting Mats - Various options discussed for home practice

🟢 Linked by Golf (Instagram / YouTube) - Ross's social media channels with practice tips and videos

🟢 Golfing Gray - Colin's Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok handle for amateur golf content

🟢 Royal Deeside Golf Week (royaldsidegolfweek.co.uk) - Multi-course tournament event in Scotland

Weekly Competitions

🟢 Royal Deeside Golf Week

Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Aboyne, Ballater, Banchory, and Braemar)

Date: July 19-24, 2026

Format: 72-hole Stableford across four different courses

Open to: Ladies and Gents

More info: royaldsidegolfweek.co.uk

Chapter List

00:00 Winter Golf at Inverness & Playing the Back Nine Strategy

08:12 The Accidental GoPro Footage of Colin's Sleeping Teenager

12:45 Why Ross Played the Back Nine Three Times More Than the Front

18:30 Winter Practice Routines & Staying Sharp Off the Course

25:15 Building a Home Putting Practice Setup

32:40 Putting Mats, Mirrors & Essential Practice Equipment

38:55 High-Tech Training: PuttView Technology Explained

45:20 DIY Putting Green Hacks That Actually Work

50:10 Royal Deeside Golf Week Competition Details

53:45 Where to Find Colin & Ross on Social Media

130mph Swings, Frozen Greens, and the 300ft Drop

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 18:57:27 -0400

In this episode of Both Sides of Par, Colin (the high-handicapper) and Ross (the low-handicapper) dive into a week of extreme contrasts, from chasing professional-level clubhead speeds to navigating the literal "frozen" greens of the Scottish Highlands.

Whether you are looking for tips on speed training, debating the merits of a new driver, or looking for high-value course recommendations in Scotland, this episode covers the game from every angle of the handicap spectrum.

What’s Inside the Show This Week:

The Quest for Speed: Ross shares his latest results from "swinging like a madman," hitting clubhead speeds of 120 mph and even a wild 130 mph during practice. He discusses why "freedom of motion" is often more important than control when trying to find extra yardage.
The Winter Diary: Colin recounts a "game of two halves" at Muiravoord, where the first nine holes were played through thick frost before a sudden thaw changed the green speeds on every hole.
The Driver Dilemma: With Colin’s driver officially "launched" (and broken) by his son, the guys discuss how to choose a replacement. Ross offers a "brand tour" of the best current options—including the Ping G430, TaylorMade Qi10, Titleist GT, and Srixon ZX—and explains why you should always test a driver on a range rather than just an indoor simulator.
Field Experiments at Strathpeffer: Colin describes the "crazy" experience of playing Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club, home to a first hole with a massive elevation drop that might be a world record.
The Pace of Play Debate: A look back at the "famous sheets" of the pro shop and why modern golf needs to embrace "Ready Golf" to get back to the three-hour rounds of the past.
Ross’s Recommendations: High-value Senior Open entries for 2025, featuring Ratho Park, Royal Montrose, and the world-renowned Cruden Bay.

Links & Resources Mentioned

Colin’s YouTube Channel: Search for Golfin McGray to see the drone footage of Strathpeffer Spa and Muiravoord.
Ross' Instagram - search LinkedByGolf on IG.
Gear Discussed: Payntr Mesh X001 shoes, MCC Align grips, and the TaylorMade Stealth/Qi10 series.

Unlocking Speed: How to Add 25+ Yards to Your Driver (Plus Scotland Golf Trip Ideas)

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 19:40:39 -0400

Want to add serious distance to your game? In this episode, Ross breaks down exactly how he increased his driver clubhead speed from 106 to 121 mph and gained 25-30 yards of carry distance—without changing his entire swing.

You'll discover the simple step drill that transforms swing speed, why the mental side of speed training matters as much as the physical, and how raising your ceiling automatically lifts your floor. Ross shares his complete journey from speed sticks to Project Harrington drills, including what worked (and what caused injury).

Plus: impact stickers that reveal exactly where you're striking the ball, a brilliant £100 weekend golf trip across three Scottish courses, and why getting feedback is the key to actually improving your game.

Whether you're a high handicapper looking to compete with longer hitters or just tired of being outdriven on every hole, this episode delivers practical strategies you can implement immediately.

Topics Covered: Speed training protocols, step drills explained, clubhead vs ball speed, the psychology of swinging faster, impact stickers review, Scottish golf trip recommendations, and more.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:58 Speed Training: How Ross Added 25-30 Yards

09:00 Speed Training Tools & Protocols

12:02 Garmin R10 Setup & Practice Routine

21:50 Using Claude AI as Your Golf Coach

25:07 Impact Stickers: Finding Your Strike Pattern

36:56 Scottish Golf Weekend: 3 Courses for £100

41:48 Wrap Up

Unlocking the UK's Best Golf Opens: Your Guide to Affordable Play

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 09:59:03 -0400

In this podcast episode, Colin and Ross explore the vibrant and accessible world of open golf competitions in Scotland and around the UK. They highlight the financial benefits of participating in these events, allowing passionate golfers to play renowned courses at a fraction of the typical green fees. Key competitions and websites like happygolf.co.uk are discussed, along with personal anecdotes about the enriching experience of playing diverse courses and meeting new players. The conversation also touches on the benefits of playing in less-than-ideal weather and the joy of impromptu, peaceful rounds in the Scottish rain. Overall, it's a love letter to opportunistic golf enthusiasts.

What's in our Bags, 2025 Courses, and Practice Planning

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 11:48:47 -0400

Colin and Ross embark on a new podcast journey, discussing their shared passion for golf equipment and experiences. Despite having a lengthy podcasting background in various topics, this marks Colin's return to his childhood interest in golf. Ross, a long-time Srixon enthusiast, shares insights about his current gear choices and the benefits of graphite shafts for reducing physical strain. Throughout the conversation, they explore the impact of technology on golf equipment and the importance of maintaining consistency. Their engaging dialogue showcases a mutual love for the sport and eagerness to delve deeper into its nuances.