NCG Top 100s Podcast

In this episode of the NCG Top 100s Podcast, host Tom Irwin and NCG Top 100s chairman Dan Murphy take on one of the game’s most heated debates: with scores plummeting and Tour pros overpowering classic layouts, what can be done to restore the challenge?

With the golf rollback and the wider distance debate dominating headlines over the past year, Tom and Dan look beyond equipment to explore architectural and strategic ways to test the very best players in the world. They discuss how modern professionals are making even elite venues appear surprisingly straightforward — and why the gap between the average golfer’s experience and a Tour pro’s reality has never been wider.

This episode digs into how course architecture can evolve to keep up with modern athleticism — and how the sport can strike the right balance between fairness, excitement, and genuine challenge for the world’s best players.

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On this week’s episode of the NCG Top 100s Podcast, host Tom Irwin travels to the stunning Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Club, where he sits down with co-owner Stuart Imeson, a figure who as a unique career path.

Stuart shares the remarkable story of his rise through the ranks at Dunstanburgh. Starting as a Greenkeeping Apprentice, he became Course Manager at just 18 years old, later taking on the role of General Manager during a challenging period for the club. Working closely with the club’s owner, he helped guide Dunstanburgh through financial and operational uncertainty - experience that ultimately paved the way to becoming a co-owner of the golf club.

The co-owner provides rare insight into the real costs of owning and running a golf club, and explains how Dunstanburgh supports other local clubs by offering machinery rentals.

Tom and Stuart also discuss Dunstanburgh's rapid rise in popularity, shining a spotlight on why the North East of England remains one of golf’s most underrated destinations. They argue that the region’s golf offering rivals the famed North West coast in quality - yet at a level of value for money that’s increasingly rare in the UK. The pair celebrate the unique charm of Northumberland, where rugged landscapes and genuine hospitality create a memorable backdrop for golf.

They also discuss how Dunstanburgh continues to evolve - both in terms of course conditioning and visitor experience - and the innovative ways the team is continuing to boost the club’s profile.

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How did golf course bunkers become such a defining — and sometimes divisive — feature of the game? 

In this episode, NCG Top 100s chairman Dan Murphy and host Tom Irwin dig into the origins of bunkers and what the golden age architects really intended when they carved them into their designs.

We explore how bunkers have evolved over time, what they cost to maintain, whether they truly pose a hazard, and why they’ve become such a talking point in modern course design. 

From history to controversy to creative solutions, we go deep into the sand to find out why the golf world has gone stark raving bunkers.

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In the latest episode of the NCG Top 100s Podcast, host Tom Irwin is joined by Ladybank Golf Club captian, Colin Priestley.

The pair discuss the beauty of Ladybank and why Tom believes the golf course is a sleeping giant within Fife golf with the club being surrounded by other Top 100s ranked golf courses such as Crail, Kingsbarns, Leven Links, and most notably the courses that are located in the town of St Andrews.

Ladybank is one of the game's historic venues with the club being founded in 1870s and originally laid out by Old Tom Morris.

The golf club has played host to Final Qualifying for The Open on a number of occasions, and famously hosted an exhibition match in 1983 between Jack Nicklaus and Seve Ballesteros, drawing in crowds of over 5,000 spectators. The Golden Bear, and arguably golf's greatest ever player, is an honorary member of the golf club.

The course sits 43rd in our NCG Top 100s:Scotland ranking and 88th in our NCG Top 100s: UK Value list, showing the pedigree of the golf course.

In this fascinating discussion, Tom and Colin share their stories of why they think Ladybank deserves to be talked about in the same sentences as Fife's other great golfing venues.

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In this episode, the NCG Top 100s team recount their 48-hour journey to Scotland's west coast, and birthplace of The Open Championship, Ayrshire.

Tom Irwin, Mike Robertson, and James Sparkes, reflect on their epic adventure to play Dundonald Links, Western Gailes, Prestwick, and Royal Troon in the space of 48 hours.

Available now on your preferred podcast platform and YouTube.

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In this episode, Tom Irwin, Mike Robertson, and James Sparkes relive their 48-hour pilgrimage to the North of Scotland.

The trio reminisce about their epic adventure to play Royal Dornoch, Fortrose & Rosemarkie, Nairn and Cabot Highlands as part of our brand-new YouTube series, 48 Hours In...

Whether you’re planning your own Highland adventure or just dreaming from afar, this is one for the pure golf romantics.

Available on your preferred podcast platform.

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In the first episode of the NCG Top 100s Podcast, host Tom Irwin has the delight to sit down with Royal St. George's Secretary, Colin Sinclair.

Colin boasts one of the finest CVs in UK golf, having worked and a number of Top 100 ranked golf courses around the country, working in several roles at Blairgowrie, Walton Heath, Carnoustie, and Nairn, before taking the reigns at the best golf course in England.

During this podcast, Tom and Colin discuss:

• Colin's career path in golf and those who helped shape his journey.
• What it's like to work at some of the best golf courses in the UK.
• Stories from Colin's time at Carnoustie and working across three Open Championships.
• The uniqueness of Nairn Golf Club and its famous Archive Room and Bothy halfway house.
• How clubs are coping with the challenge of modern golf ball distance and how mother nature effects it
• The famous off-course and dining room experience at Royal St. George's
• The wonderful concept of the Hagen 54 between Royal St. George's, Royal Cinque Ports, and Prince's.
• When we will likely see The Open return to Sandwich.
• And, there's always time for a Tiger Woods anecdote.

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