The roar was hostile, the air was thick with dust and beer, and five hours of focus hung on every swing. We sit down with performance psychologist Tom Young to go inside Europe’s away Ryder Cup triumph and pull out the real engines of clutch: culture, clarity, and calm under fire. From the gym where coaches paced through Sunday’s chaos to the 18th green where celebrations erupted, Tom shares what the cameras missed and the habits any golfer can learn. Tom's Company Cognite Tom's Linkedin Tom...
Nish picks five holes that stayed with him long after the cards were binned, and explore why memory, setting, and small rituals beat raw score. From Trump’s commanding 14th to Queens’ phone box charm, we trace the moments that defined a year of golf. • how he choose holes he can still walk in his head • trump 14th as theatre and isolation • Dumbarnie 8th as beautiful, playable downhill par three • Hindhead 5th as true roller coaster heathland • Gullane 17th as character and golden hour finis...
We choose five golf holes from 2025 that still live rent‑free in our heads, from a gutsy short par four at Aberdovey to the imposing 14th at Trump and the smile-inducing sixth at Gleneagles Queen’s. We talk risk and reward, great reveals, subtle strategy, and the joy of replay value. • Mission to play the top 100 in ten years and why holes matter more than lists • Aberdovey 15 as a true 50‑50 risk‑reward short par four • The theatre and strategy of Trump Aberdeen 14 • Dumbarnie 8’s breathtak...
We rank our top three UK courses after a year of bucket‑list golf, weighing playability, beauty, and pure golfing soul. Along the way we revisit Queens, Cruden Bay, Gullane, Hindhead, Hollinwell, and why thoughtful details can make or break a day. • setting the goal to play the top 100 and reflect on progress • short courses as smart design, not soft tests • contenders that nearly made third place • number three: Hankley Common for grown‑up, heather‑lined strategy • number two: Dumbarnie Lin...
What separates a beautiful round from a great test? We spent a year chasing the UK’s finest tracks and came home with a top three that put strategy, nerve, and attention at the centre of the story. Fifteen courses later, the shortlist surprised even us. We start with the miles and memories—early alarms, long drives, and chance friendships—then get ruthless about the golf. Carnoustie takes the third spot for its uncompromising clarity: every bunker, burn, and contour forces a decision, and th...
The wind wouldn’t let up, the bunkers wouldn’t blink, and we loved every second of it. Our Carnoustie round became a masterclass in patience, club selection, and keeping your head when a pot bunker is daring you to lose it. We came for the history—Hogan’s Alley, the Van de Velde burn, the toughest finishing stretch in golf—and left with sore faces from laughing, wiser swings, and a deeper respect for a course that rewards nerve over noise. • why Carnoustie’s layout is relentless yet fair • h...
A wee dram on the first tee, sea air in your lungs, and a fairway that seems to help your ball find grass instead of trouble—some days hint they’ll be special before you’ve swung a club. Our 50th milestone took us to Dumbarnie Golf Links, where hospitality and modern links design come together in a way that made us ask, out loud: is this the best golf experience in Scotland? Have a look at our course pictures and scorecards We break down the course, the clubhouse, and the value. • how the ar...
Carnoustie doesn’t host championships so much as it interrogates you. We tee up our most anticipated round yet with a blend of lore, strategy, and honesty about what it takes to survive the toughest mile in golf. From Hogan’s Alley to the Barry Burn, we map the decisions that separate a tidy bogey from a card-wrecker, and we share the member insights that reveal where the real trouble hides. ***** our gracious hosts Paul & Barry are attempting to play all of the golf courses in Scot...
A new Scottish links with rookie swagger takes on a legend as we set up an epic doubleheader: Dumbarnie’s modern hospitality and risk‑reward design against the stern test of Carnoustie. We explore the welcome rituals, drivable par fours, sea views, and why Scotland’s variety is unmatched. • whisky on the tee and a first‑putt honour ritual • visitor‑first service and smooth facility flow • wide fairways, fun setup, and fair challenge • three drivable par fours with real decisions • split‑fair...
We take our first Top 100 in 10 Society Day to Hollinwell and find a quiet, welcoming club with a routing that builds to a breathtaking 13–18 stretch. Despite drought-marked fairways, the design, the setting, and the finish make a powerful case for greatness. • warm welcome from staff, helpful pro, relaxed clubhouse vibe • why follows and engagement help secure future tee times • free-to-join society details and upcoming Burnham & Berrow event • first hole debate and how hole two resets ...
We set out to play Trump International Links Aberdeen ready to be critical and left stunned by the course’s strategy, conditioning, and theatre. The dunes, the angles, and the par-5 finish combined to move it to our top spot, even with a polarising name and price tag. • our top 100 in 10 years challenge • divisive reputation versus on-course reality • slope ratings, tees, and managing fear • strategy over ego: position play that works • conditioning and maintenance philosophy • front nine hi...
We preview Hollinwell Golf Club with Alex (Top 100 Golf Guru) and Lee from Harbs7Golf, map the course’s strategic flow, and share the stories that give this heathland its pull. We also unveil our Society Day format, the signature-hole challenge on 18, and a side bet that could cost drinks. We'll be discussing; • why Hollinwell Golf Club feels special before the first tee • the long drive in, the clubhouse reveal, the “bowl” landscape • course rhythm: gentle opener, stern second, back-nine dr...
It's our very Unashamedly Pro-European Ryder Cup Preview! What are your predictions? The Ryder Cup creates a unique gladiatorial battle where players represent their continent with nothing but pride on the line. We analyze Europe's chances against the Americans at Beth Page Black, weighing team dynamics, player form, and course factors. • European team has strong experience with McIlroy entering his eighth Ryder Cup • Recent wins from Fleetwood and McIlroy remove potential psychological barr...
Gullane Golf Club delivers a magical links experience, leaving us completely in love with the course and facilities as we explore the self-described "Village of Golf." • Driving to Gullane provides immediate immersion in golf with courses lining both sides of the road • The club features two clubhouses - the historic Members' Clubhouse and the newer Links Clubhouse built about 10 years ago • Dylan, the Sales Manager, showed us their exceptional facilities including a top tracer driving range...
We discover that Hankley Common Golf Club delivers a stunning golfing experience that exceeds expectations and counters our fears about tight fairways and punishing heather. The course proves to be not only playable but absolutely beautiful with its purple heather, pristine white sand, and immaculate fairways. • Ranked 58th in UK and Ireland, but feels like it should be ranked higher • Fears about difficult heather and narrow fairways were unfounded • Clubhouse is classy and welcoming with e...
Is this a marmite course? The third part of the trilogy of Scottish courses... and this one certainly had us on different sides of the argument. Billed and a unique and interesting golf course, Cruden Bay Golf Club didn't disappoint... Chris wasn't a fan to say the least, Nish really liked it - find out where the battle lines were drawn for this one In this review, we cover; - The club and clubhouse experience - Meeting a local celebrity - Some top tips if you end up playing Cruden Bay Golf C...
Our 2nd course in our Scottish triple header was Trump International Aberdeen, which is and has been, a divisive course for many reasons. We wanted to give this course a fair chance and see what we thought of it. It's been a round that has been on, then off, then on again, so the excitement was already palpable at being able to play. So we made sure we recorded our preview in the early hours on our drive over to the course. In this preview, we cover; - How the round came about - Discussions o...
Part One of our Scottish triple header was Gullane No 1 at Gullane Golf Club, in East Lothian, Scotland. This parcel of golfing land is home to no fewer than 5 top 100 golf courses, and in the wider region, more than 10. Golf has been played at Gullane in some form since 1650, so this really is the cradle of golf. We're going back to the beginning of this great game of golf. In this preview, we cover; - How to say Gullane properly - The incredible course and club history - What we're look...
Is this the MOST under-ranked golf course in the UK? We review Hindhead Golf Club, which we played as part of a Surrey double-header, where we were invited to play by friend of the Pod, Andrew, and his buddy Tony. In our preview, we waxed lyrical about the front 9 and how spectacular it looked. Did it live up to our expectations? We also got a great welcome to the club by everyone there, which added to the overall impression of the members, and the club, and the Club President, Mr Jack Buch...
Billed as a "unique and unforgettable experience", Cruden Bay Golf Club is a very interesting course that we are really looking forward to playing. It's part of a Scottish trip we're making up to the Aberdeenshire coast, and this is the 3rd Scottish golf course we are playing. It feels like its a proper Scottish golf test, with a dramatic cliffy backdrop with views over Cruden Bay. We're expecting a complete visual feast, and the course is described as the 2nd most fun in Scotland! Find ou...