North of Par

I’ve come to believe that using data is the simplest way to shave shots off your handicap — and I mean properly use it, not just have a gadget for the sake of it.

Get your carry distances nailed first: a quick gapping session on a sim or TopTracer will save you endless guesswork out on the course. Map those carries to a wedge matrix (quarter, half, three-quarter swings if you’re a mid/high handicapper) and stick the numbers on the back of your card. Once that’s done, decision-making gets easier — fewer choices, more commitment, better golf.

I talk about how on-course shot tracking (I use ShotScope with club tags or the watch) builds critical mass so you can see where you actually lose shots — whether it’s always coming up short, a two-way miss with driver, or three-putting more than you thought. The big myth is that tracking slows play: it doesn’t.

With tags or a pencil and a simple back-of-card map you capture the essentials in seconds and correct in the app afterwards. I even changed my driver shaft off the back of what the data showed me and the left-side two-way miss largely vanished — and my handicap dropped because of it.

Follow us at @northofpargc if you want the gritty tools and feel free to hit me up if you’re tracking and want a hand.

Takeaways:

• I tell you: get your carry distances and a simple wedge matrix to stop guessing on course.
• We use on-course tracking or a pencil on the back of your scorecard to capture every shot and reveal where we really lose strokes.
• I'm serious: data doesn’t have to be fancy gear — even a Journal 18 or phone notes will reveal trends and shave shots off your handicap.
• I proved it: tracking showed I had a two-way miss, I changed my driver shaft and my handicap dropped as a result.
• We shouldn't be embarrassed by revealing weak spots — data humbles us but it also tells us exactly where to aim, how many extra clubs to take, and which short game shots to practice.
• I guarantee tracking won't slow the game; tech like ShotScope auto-tags shots and a few quick end-of-hole corrections give powerful insights to lower your handicap.

Links referenced in this episode:

• discounts.nop.golf
• voicemail.nop.golf

Links referenced in this episode:

• discounts.nop.golf
• voicemail.nop.golf

A North of Par Production

Let's set our 2027 golf goals together...

In this episode I get a bit businessy and a bit brutally honest about where my season went wrong and how I’m fixing it. I talk SMART goals and KPIs like a proper knob-scratch entrepreneur because it works; the difference between saying “I want to be better” and “I will lower my WHS to 8.0 by end of next season” is the decisions you make every day.

I break down the mechanics - fewer doubles, more disciplined putting, better decision-making off the tee - and why tracking those small metrics will move the needle. There’s a candid moment about my tee yips earlier in the year, how lingering over shots destroyed my confidence, and how a disciplined mental routine brought things back under control.

This episode is for the golfers who want a plan. I talk through the specifics of my goals for 2027 (one comp a month, playing with lower-handicap players, committing to every pre-shot routine) and the psychology behind sticking to them.

Also if you take nothing else away from this episode, make your goals physical and tangible; print your goals, shove them in your scorecard, show them to me on Instagram, and overshoot. Aim higher than you think you can.

If you’re into real-world practice, data (ShotScope), and budget-friendly gear (Seed Golf — use NOP10), I share how I pair habit, tech and deliberate practice to chase those hard outcomes.

Takeaways:

• I split my goals into hard outcomes and soft KPIs: hard goals are an 8.0 WHS index, winning a solo comp, getting a natural eagle, and finally breaking 80.
• I learned that unless I write goals down and measure KPIs, they stay stories and won’t actually change my decision-making on the course.
• I’ll play at least one comp per month and spend more time playing with better golfers to learn decision-making and rub off on their routines.
• I commit to a strict pre-shot routine on every single shot that needs discipline, because the routine shrank my margins for error and rebuilt my confidence after the yips.
• I’ll limit myself to a maximum of one double bogey per round to stay mentally resilient and protect the rest of my scorecard.

Links referenced in this episode:

• instagram.com/northofpargc

Links referenced in this episode:

• discounts.nop.golf
• voicemail.nop.golf

A North of Par Production

I made three off‑season changes that produced about a three‑shot handicap gain for me last year, and I want to give them to you so you can nick a bit of the same progress.

First up, I went all in on structured short‑game and putting practice — proper block work, then pressure games like the ladder drill and the bin‑lid pace work, with a one‑hour plan, boundaries and measurement.

Second, I pretty much cut myself off from the endless YouTube swing fixes: seek the drills from a coach, not the next silver bullet thumbnail that gets you excited for a day.

Third, I started thinking and behaving like a lower‑handicap golfer — making different decisions on course, practicing differently, and treating myself as if I was already in single figures.

These three moves have pushed me right down toward single figures despite a busted hand and a rubbish winter in the UK, so they really do work if you actually do them.

If you want the nitty‑gritty of the drills — ladder, bin lid, the three‑ball pressure games — we go through them and how to gamify practice so your on‑course brain remembers the feel.

Keep it structured, stop chasing quick fixes, and start acting like the golfer you want to be.

Takeaways:

• I broke my practice into a one‑hour short‑game plan with ladders, bin‑lid targets, and pressure games to force real on‑course execution.
• I literally cut myself off from endless YouTube swing tutorials and instead get drills from a coach so I don't chase every silver bullet.
• I started thinking of myself as a lower‑handicap golfer, and that mindset shift changed the decisions I make on course and in practice.
• I practice with a pencil bag: 20 balls, one wedge, a putter and alignment sticks so I don't get tempted to smash full shots.
• I simulate pressure by scattering 20 shots around a green, taking one shot only, and using a strict pre‑shot routine every time.
• When I can't get on course I read the right stuff—Bob Rotella, mental prep—and book lessons, using downtime to improve the head game.
• I kept the fun in golf while tracking progress, and those three changes took me from mid handicap close to single figures despite injury.

Links referenced in this episode:

• discounts.nop.golf
• voicemail.nop.golf

A North of Par Production

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: golf is a puzzle and Al helped me lay out the pieces for the everyday club golfer.

We talk strategy — not swing mechanics — and Al hits the nail on the head: pick clubs you’re happy hitting, avoid the drama of risky shots, and aim for consistency over heroics.

I keep reminding myself (and you) that staying in play beats blasting a fairway 20 yards into a sheep field. We dig into course management: play the pins, know trouble spots, and treat each hole like an escape room where the objective is a low score, not bravado. That kind of pragmatic thinking turns a frustrating Saturday into something you can actually be proud of.

We also get into the nuts-and-bolts of daily habits that separate the good days from the disasters — hydration, snacks, and pacing. Al’s surprisingly evangelical about electrolytes and slow-release energy: keep fuel in the tank and your mental game holds.

We talk playing with better golfers, how your group affects your performance, and why the best players are simply ‘less bad’ than the rest of us.

The takeaway? Be deliberate — make small, repeatable wins (hit the one iron you can control, don’t try a YouTube trick off the tee) and frame success by progress, not perfection.

That’s the practical roadmap we can actually use next Saturday.

Links referenced in this episode:

• discounts.nop.golf
• voicemail.nop.golf

A North of Par Production

We design and optimise golf balls for mishits — because I genuinely believe the biggest win for the average, weekend warrior is a ball that performs when you don’t hit the center every time. I sit down with Dean Klatt, founder of Seed Golf, and we properly nerd out about ball science, why designing for the normal golfer matters, and how Seed’s direct‑to‑consumer, community‑first approach keeps tour‑quality feel affordable. We cover how the SD01 became a go‑to for so many players, why our pro bundles help you find the right Seed for your swing, and even the fun stuff like Lucy’s and our “wrong’uns” solution to a factory hiccup. Along the way we talk customer service, authenticity, and how making golf more accessible can actually grow the game — all recorded live at the PGA Show 2026. If you’re into numbers, tech, or just want a ball that behaves predictably so you can focus on the shot, this chat is for you — and we have discounts and a subscription if you’re ready to try.

Lee York broke his back in a life changing accident but refused to be defined by it — he fought his way back, relearned the game from a wheelchair and now represents England, wins big events and is gunning to be world number one.

We drove down to Waterfront Golf to record in person and honestly, calling Lee “inspiring” feels too small — he’s a proper powerhouse of will who lifts everyone around him.

We dig into his pre‑accident life as a young pro, the fall on a container ship in May 2017, the brutal rehab, a surprising chapter in wheelchair table tennis, and then the moment he chose to “start again” and rebuild golf on totally new terms. We nerd out on kit — shafts, lofts, club length and how getting fitted and switching to stiffer shafts unlocked distance — and demo the tech and chair setup that make modern wheelchair golf possible.

Lee also serves up brilliant, practical coaching: alignment, a traffic‑light way to play holes, how to structure practice so 20 quality shots beat 100 bored ones, and why putting deserves more love. We finish with our 3‑for‑3 segment (powered by ShotScope), some tailored tips for our own games, shout‑outs to the Oaks, Waterfront and our partners, and a plea: give Lee an hour of your time on socials — he’s genuine, funny, and absolutely worth it.

Recorded on location at Waterfront Golf, cheers team!

Links referenced in this episode:

• discounts.nop.golf
• voicemail.nop.golf

A North of Par Production

Takeaways:

• We heard Lee's proper tough story — falling thirty foot, breaking his back, and refusing to be defined by that accident.
• I loved how Lee essentially restarted golf from scratch: forgetting old habits and learning to play a different way, hole by hole, par by par.
• We took away tangible coaching gold: sort your alignment, practice with purpose using imaginary fairways, and use a traffic‑light system to avoid big numbers.
• I was fascinated by the kit chat — going slightly longer clubs and a stiffer shaft gave Lee the extra distance he needed to reach single figures again.
• We got a brilliant look at wheelchair golf kit: the electric machine stands you up, moves quick enough on fairways, and you treat greens with respect to avoid damage.
• I appreciated Lee's honesty about rehab — table tennis and Paralympic sports filled the gap, family priorities shifted his focus, then golf reignited his competitive fire.
• We were inspired by what he’s achieved: winning Mallorca, playing at Celtic Manor, representing England, and chasing being world number one in wheelchair golf again.
• I came away convinced that deliberate practice beats volume — simulate course yardages on the range, hit quality shots with alignment checks, and make practice into focused mini games.

We get straight to the point: clubs that cling to daft traditions and weird etiquette are driving youngsters and new players away, and if we don’t modernise our marketing, booking systems and clubhouse experience the game’s in trouble.

I bring on my good mate Colin Gray — steeped in golf from his dad’s work, gone cold on the game for twenty years and then lured back — and we riff on his return, the joy of getting your handicap down and the weird stuff that puts people off joining clubs.

We talk honestly about tech and simple fixes (better tee-booking, nine‑hole options, TrackMan/Sim bays and dynamic pricing), why the top clubs have the confidence to make bold decisions, and why mid‑tier clubs often get stuck paying the bills instead of innovating.

Col and I also share the practical stuff that helped us — pre‑shot routines, “caddying” for yourself, a towel under the armpits to stay connected, using data from sims and the Garmin R10 and actually testing shafts properly — and how those small changes shave off the wild shots. It’s a chat that’s as much about saving local golf as it is about enjoying it, with loads of laughs, a bit of ranting and proper, useful takeaways for anyone getting back into the game. Check out Colin’s show Both Sides of Par if you want more of his perspective — he’s calm, collected and annoyingly good at staying on point.

Colin and I have been mates for a long time, so this felt less like an interview and more like a pint-and-a-chat about how someone can fall out of love with golf and then, weirdly, fall back in better than ever. He grew up steeped in golf—dad a greenkeeper, a course built in Dumfries—then rebelled at 18, went to uni and didn’t touch a club for about twenty years. The nudge back came from mates and a mad annual trip they call the British Invitational: top courses, top craic, and Colin decided he didn’t want to look like an absolute tit. From being a 18–20 handicap teenager to creeping back in at 23 and then clawing his way down to low teens, he talks honestly about the erratic nature of being an adult golfer—great shots one round, absolute carnage the next—and how the real wins were mental not technical. We get deep into the mental stuff: the yips on the tee, the pressure of finishing comps, and how a pre-shot routine and “caddying for yourself” changed everything. Colin walked us through picking a target, picturing the shot, committing, and how that focus strips away the what-ifs. He also details the practical wins—driver fitting (extra-stiff, shorter shaft), consistent practice, and playing more competitive golf—and how those tiny shifts moved his handicap. It’s a proper, warm, human story: someone rediscovering joy, being a bit of a bandit at times, and ultimately learning to enjoy the game without being its hostage.

Takeaways:

• I reckon golf clubs that cling to daft rules like no hats in the clubhouse are actively putting people off, and that is bollocks.
• We learned you must decide if a club is for golfers or a community hub — you can't have a foot in both camps and expect growth.
• I found a simple mental routine — literally caddying for myself and committing to a pre‑shot script — transformed my tee confidence and scores.
• We use data and affordable tech like Garmin R10, GS Pro, ShotScope and AI (Claude/ChatGPT) to analyse hundreds of shots, pick the right shaft, and actually measure real improvement.
• I love the towel‑under‑the‑armpits drill; it forced me to stay connected, turn my body properly, and instantly add distance and consistency.
• We argued that many mid‑tier clubs are run by well-meaning volunteers who aren't marketers, so hiring pro help and designing experiences matters more than stubborn tradition.
• I care about juniors sticking with it — a welcoming clubhouse and no entitlement from some members is crucial if we want the game to grow.
• We also flagged practical fixes: dynamic tee booking, genuine nine‑hole slots and adding sims/TrackMan experiences can increase member value without wrecking people's rounds.

Links referenced in this episode:

• discounts.nop.golf
• voicemail.nop.golf

A North of Par Production

In this episode, Nick Yorkshire Yips shares his journey from weight loss to becoming a golf content creator, discussing the importance of authenticity, coaching, and evolving fashion in golf. Discover practical tips for improving your game and embracing the modern face of golf.

What Nick & I discuss:

• Nick's journey from weight loss to golf content creation
• The role of coaching and fitting in improving golf
• The evolution of golf fashion and dress codes
• The mental health benefits of golf and its community
• Specific golf goals and how to achieve them
• The impact of social media on golf engagement
• The importance of authenticity and relatability in content
• Innovative golf competitions and how they benefit players

Links referenced in this episode:

• discounts.nop.golf
• voicemail.nop.golf

A North of Par Production

Rob Lewis, our guest this week, shares an inspiring journey of going from a beginner to a single-digit golfer in just two and a half years. We dive into the ups and downs of his golfing experience, including the challenges he faced and the dedication he put into improving his game. Rob's story is not just about personal achievement; it’s also a testament to the power of community and support at Meltham Golf Club, where both he and I are members. We discuss the importance of playing smart and staying in play, especially when things aren’t going perfectly on the course. Plus, I share some light-hearted banter about my own mishaps with microphones during our recording session, reminding us that golf—and life—are all about having fun and not taking ourselves too seriously. Enjoy the episode!

Takeaways:

• Rob's journey to becoming a single-digit golfer in just two and a half years showcases the power of dedication and hard work.
• It's essential to play to your strengths and accept that you won't always perform at your best; sometimes just getting through it is sufficient.
• Practicing short game techniques can significantly lower your scores; Rob emphasizes the importance of mastering wedge distances for better performance.
• The mental aspect of golf is crucial; developing a pre-shot routine and maintaining focus can make a big difference in performance on the course.
• Confidence in your abilities develops through practice; knowing your distances and trusting your swing can help reduce pressure during play.
• Community and camaraderie at the golf club can enhance the experience, making it important to foster relationships and support fellow golfers.

Links referenced in this episode:

• discounts.nop.golf
• voicemail.nop.golf

A North of Par Production

Today, we're diving deep into the evolution of golf technology with Lyndsey Whitefield from Shot Scope, discussing how the game is changing alongside our busy lifestyles. As golf becomes more accessible, we're seeing a surge in interest from diverse demographics, and Shot Scope is at the forefront of this shift, offering innovative products that cater to all levels of golfers. Lindsay shares fascinating insights about the company's journey, from their origins in shot tracking to their latest game-changing product, the LM1 launch monitor, which has garnered significant buzz in the golfing community.

We also touch on the importance of data in improving one’s game and how Shot Scope has successfully made this data accessible and user-friendly. This conversation is not only informative but also a testament to how technology and passion for golf can combine to enhance the sport for everyone.

Takeaways:

• In today's rapidly changing golf landscape, people are evolving and seeking different formats and experiences to make the game more accessible.
• The Shot Scope ecosystem has expanded significantly, catering to golfers of all levels with a variety of products designed to enhance their performance and enjoyment.
• Data accessibility has grown, making it easier for mid to high handicappers to understand their game and use insights to improve their skills effectively.
• The decision to remain a non-subscription business is a bold move that emphasizes Shot Scope's commitment to providing golfers access to their data without additional costs.
• Lyndsey's journey from a non-golfer to a passionate player illustrates the increasing accessibility of golf and the diversity of its community.
• The launch of the LM1 has been a game-changer, highlighting the importance of providing affordable and effective technology to elevate the golfing experience.

Links referenced in this episode:

• discounts.nop.golf

A North of Par production.