Going OB

In this episode of the Going OB Golf Podcast, Craig sits down with Callum, founder of Pin Perfect Golf in Paisley, to explore the rise of simulator golf and why indoor facilities are becoming a huge part of the modern game.

Callum shares his own journey into golf — from growing up playing a small nine-hole course on the West Coast of Scotland, to falling back in love with the game later in life as a high-handicap golfer. That personal experience helped shape Pin Perfect into a space designed not just for elite players, but for everyday golfers who want to improve, practise smarter, or simply enjoy the game year-round.

The conversation dives into the benefits of TrackMan technology, why simulators offer better feedback than traditional driving ranges, and how indoor golf is helping players understand why things go wrong in their swing — not just that they’ve gone wrong.

Craig and Callum also discuss:

Why winter golf in Scotland is so challenging

The balance between serious practice and social golf

How Pin Perfect was built from scratch (and nearly didn’t happen)

The growing popularity of simulator golf with younger players

Why indoor golf is growing faster than the outdoor game

Whether you’re a high-handicapper, a data geek, or someone struggling to stay sharp through the winter months, this episode offers a fascinating look at where golf is heading next.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps

00:25 – Welcome & introduction

01:15 – Callum’s background and early golf experiences

03:30 – Discovering Simulators and Falling back in love with golf as an adult

05:00 – Why simulators give better feedback than the range

10:00 – Nearly pulling the plug on the business

13:30 – Building the facility and opening day

15:00 – Practice golfers vs social golfers

19:00 – Lessons, TrackMan data & improving smarter

21:30 – Indoor golf growth and younger players

23:30 – Future plans for Pin Perfect Golf

27:20 – Where to find Pin Perfect & final thoughts

🎙️ Host:

Craig – Going OB Golf Podcast

👤 Guest:

Callum Nicol – Founder, Pin Perfect Golf (Paisley)

Website: pinperfectgolf.co.uk

Instagram / TikTok: @pin_perfect_golf

In this powerful and honest episode of GoingOB, Craig sits down with PGA Professional Michael to hear the story behind how a golf club quite literally saved his life.

From growing up around the game in Scotland to building a successful career as a club professional, Michael shares what life is really like behind the scenes in golf. He opens up about the pressures of running a business, long working hours, burnout, and how his mental health reached breaking point.

Michael speaks candidly about anxiety, depression, stepping away from the game, and the difficult process of rebuilding himself — both personally and professionally. With the support of family, friends, and the golf community, he found his way back through a role at Nairn Golf Club, rediscovering his passion and purpose.

This episode also explores:

🏌️ Life as a PGA professional

🧠 Mental health in sport

💼 The reality of running a pro shop

❤️ Why talking saves lives

🎯 Creativity, half-sets, and loving the game again

If you’re struggling, feeling burnt out, or carrying more than people realise — this conversation is for you.

👤 About Our Guest: Michael

Michael is a PGA Golf Professional with over 20 years of experience in the golf industry.

He has worked across Scotland in senior club roles, including as Head Professional at Elgin Golf Club, and now manages retail and operations at Nairn Golf Club.

Alongside his professional work, Michael is a passionate mental health advocate. He organises charity events, mentors young professionals, and uses his own experiences to help others who may be struggling in silence.

📬 Contact & Follow Michael

🔗 LinkedIn: Michael McAllan

✍️ Blog: A Golf Club Saved My Life. https://mcallangolf.wordpress.com

🏌️ Nairn Golf Club: https://www.nairngolfclub.co.uk

YouTube: @michaelmcallangolfcom

Instagram: michaelmcallangolf

🎙️ About Going OB

Going OB is a golf podcast exploring the real stories behind the game — from tour life and club golf to business, mental health, and personal journeys.

Hosted by Craig, the show brings honest conversations, great guests, and a deeper look at what golf really means to people.

📌 Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

04:10 Michael’s golf journey

10:30 Turning professional

17:20 Life as a PGA Pro

25:00 Burnout, pressure and mental health struggles

30:00 Stepping away from golf

33:00 Rebuilding at Nairn

37:00 Charity and advocacy

39:00 Golf and wellbeing

43:00 Creativity and half sets

61:00 Final reflections and why Jeff is wrong about Bohemian Rhapsody

⚠️ Support & Resources

I

f you are struggling with your mental health, you are not alone.

UK Support:

📞 Samaritans: 116 123

🌐 https://www.samaritans.org

🌐 Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk

Reaching out is a sign of strength.

👍 Support the Podcast

If you enjoyed this episode:

✅ Like

✅ Subscribe

✅ Share with someone who needs to hear this

✅ Leave a comment — I read them all

It really helps the Podcast grow.

In this episode of Going OB, Craig steps slightly outside the usual golf chat to have an important, open and honest conversation about testicular cancer awareness with Kieran from the Oddballs Foundation, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to raising awareness of testicular cancer.

What starts as a personal story about finding something unusual during a self-check quickly becomes a powerful discussion about why men still struggle to talk about their health — and how simple habits can genuinely save lives. Kieran explains the charity’s core message of Check. Detect. Act., why early detection is critical, and how the Oddballs Foundation uses bold branding, education, and community outreach to normalise conversations around men’s health.

The episode also explores why environments like the golf course — where people spend hours together — can be the perfect place for meaningful conversations, breaking down stigma, and encouraging men to look after themselves.

This is an essential listen for anyone who plays golf, knows someone who does, or simply wants to be better informed about their health.

Please check the show notes for links to the Oddballs Foundation’s official self-checking guides and support resources.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps (Key & Relevant Moments)

00:42 – Introduction & why this conversation matters
Craig introduces the episode and explains why testicular cancer awareness is relevant to the Going OB audience.

01:10 – Personal experience & the reality of finding something unusual
Craig shares his own story and why it prompted him to reach out to the Oddballs Foundation.

02:38 – What is the Oddballs Foundation and WHY early detection saves lives.
Kieran explains the charity’s mission, key facts about testicular cancer, age groups most affected, and why checking matters.

04:33 – Breaking stigma, talking about men’s health, 
The first conversation is often the hardest — and why it’s also the most important. Why the golf course is a surprisingly powerful place for open discussion.

07:00 – The origins of Oddballs & the underwear brand
How the Oddballs business led to the creation of the foundation.

09:09 – University Ambassador Programme explained
How the foundation educates schools, universities, workplaces and communities.

12:56 – How to check yourself properly
Where to find official guides and what men should actually be looking for.

14:46 – How to support the Oddballs Foundation
Donations, fundraising, merchandise and where the money goes.

16:09 – Golf chat & lighter moments
Keaton’s golfing background and the crossover between sport and wellbeing.

18:49 – Final message: Check. Detect. Act.
The three words the foundation wants everyone to remember.

👤 Guest Information

Guest: Kieran Kelly


Organisation: The Oddballs Foundation


Role: Managing Director & Advocate for Testicular Cancer Awareness

About the Oddballs Foundation

The Oddballs Foundation is the UK’s leading testicular cancer awareness charity, focused on education, early detection, and breaking down stigma around men’s health. The foundation delivers talks across schools, universities, workplaces and communities, empowering men to take responsibility for their health.

🌐 Website: https://www.theoddballsfoundation.com


📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oddballsfdn


📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oddballsfoundation


🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oddballsfdn


💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oddballsfoundation

🩺 Self-Check Guide:
Available via the foundation’s website — step-by-step instructions on how and when to check yourself.

🎧 About the Host

Host: Craig
Podcast: Going OB Golf Podcast


🎙️ Listen & subscribe: https://linktr.ee/goingobpod


📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goingobpod

In this episode of Going OB, Craig is joined by Heidi Cannon — a world champion with a background that doesn’t follow the traditional golf pathway.

Heidi shares how she first found the game, what drew her in, and how golf became part of her life alongside a demanding fitness modelling career.

We talk openly about discipline, confidence, and the realities of building a personal brand in the public eye, as well as her journey working with brands like Golf Gods and Killer Golf.

This is a conversation about doing things differently, balancing ambition across multiple worlds, and carving out space in golf without trying to fit a mould.

@Heidi_Cannon_

In this episode of GoingOB, I’m joined by Alyson McKechin, a highly respected PGA professional, coach, and one of the most inspiring figures in Scottish golf. Alyson’s journey took her from winning the Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship to competing at elite levels, and now to leading golf coaching and community engagement at Golf It! Glasgow — a revolutionary R&A-backed facility focused on making golf more inclusive and accessible for everyone.

We dive into Alyson’s early love for the game, her transition from competitive player to coach, and how she’s championing golf as a sport for all ages and abilities. From her work with junior programmes and community engagement to international experiences like coaching at the Costa Rica Blind Golf Open, Alyson’s story is a testament to the power of golf to change lives and bring people together.

What if the difference between a good round and a great round comes down to one skill most golfers obsess over — putting?

In this episode of Going OB, Craig sits down with Rob Smyth, founder of The Putting Edge, to unpack the truth about putting improvement, training that actually works, and whether everyday golfers can gain a real edge on the greens. Rob brings deep insights from years of helping players at all levels refine their stroke, read greens with confidence, and remove fear from their short game.

We talk about:

How training tools like The Putting Edge can accelerate improvement

What separates great putters from the rest

The psychology of the short game and how confidence translates into performance

Whether you’re stuck on your current handicap or just feel like you should be holing more putts, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and real-world coaching you can apply during your next practice session.

Learn more about The Putting Edge: https://www.puttingedgegolf.com

In this episode of GoingOB, I’m joined by Rob from The Putting Edge — the innovative golf training aid company that’s helping golfers build a smoother, more repeatable putting stroke. The Putting Edge is designed to help golfers of all levels improve consistency by training a true pendulum motion, quieting the hands, and promoting body-driven alignment whether you’re on the green or practising at home.

We dive into The Putting Edge story, how a simple idea turned into a product trusted by golfers looking for quick feedback and better feel, and what it takes to design training tools that actually help players improve. Rob shares his own golf journey, insights into building a training aid business, and what the future holds for The Putting Edge and putting training more broadly.

What happens when golf stops being just a hobby and starts becoming a life reset?

In this episode of Going OB, Craig is joined by Joel Smith, the creator behind the YouTube channel Golf Life Crisis, to talk about one of the boldest challenges in amateur golf content — stepping away from a full-time job to dedicate a year to chasing scratch while documenting every high, low, and doubt along the way.

This isn’t a swing-tips episode or a highlight reel. Joel opens up about redundancy, motivation, burnout, injury, and the realities of trying to genuinely improve at golf — physically, mentally, and emotionally — while building a content channel from the ground up.

From practice structure and coaching, to data, simulators, YouTube pressure, and the fear of losing the joy of the game, this is a wide-ranging conversation about why we chase improvement, not just how.

If you’ve ever felt stuck at a handicap plateau, overwhelmed by golf advice, or questioned why you care so much about getting better — this one will hit home.

👤 Guest Information

Joel Smith

Creator of Golf Life Crisis

📺 YouTube: Golf Life Crisis

📸 Instagram & TikTok: @golflifecrisis

💬 DMs open on Instagram

Craig Purves

Host of Going OB

🎙️ Podcast: Going OB

📸 Instagram: @goingobgolf

▶️ YouTube: GoingOBTV

Welcome to Season 4 of GoingOB.

In this short intro episode, I set out what’s changing, what’s coming, and why this season feels different. GoingOB has always been about stories from across the game, but Season 4 brings a clearer structure, more consistency, and a renewed focus on improvement, honesty and community.

I outline the new episode release schedule, where you can find GoingOB across audio platforms, YouTube and social media, and what listeners can expect from the season ahead.

I also introduce a brand-new series for 2026 — Breaking My Best — where I’ll be using real performance data to track my own golf journey, challenge personal benchmarks, and share the process openly. No filters, no shortcuts — just the work.

Finally, this episode is an open invitation. I’m actively looking for:

* Guests with stories from across the golf world

* Sponsors and partners who want to be part of an authentic, trust-led golf podcast as it grows

If you love golf, care about improvement, or believe every golfer has a story worth telling — Season 4 is for you.

Thanks for being here. Let’s get into it.

Going OB is going offline for a few weeks — but for a good reason. I’m taking this time to rework the look and feel of the show, lock in new guests, and build something bigger for the new year.

This quick update explains what’s coming, why the reset matters, and how Going OB is levelling up for 2026.

I’ll be supporting the launch of the Fore Everyone podcast on the GoingOB Network behind the scenes. Oliver and Martin have some great guests and ideas so go give them a listen.

The comeback starts in January. Let’s do this.