Massive week in golf as always, so much to talk about. We kick off the show, unfortunately, by Mark singing happy birthday to the Shark. Just what Greg would have wanted....an out of tune birthday song.

However after that Mark plays some audio of Brandel Chamblee talking about the discussions between the PGA and Trump this week. Leads to a chat about what it might mean for a unified game, and with Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland just having returned from Saudi Arabia, and a media conference scheduled by GA at LIV Adelaide this Thursday .... is there news on the horizon ? It does seem as though there may be, and we discuss what it may be about - and what we hope it is about. We have no idea, so we're just speculating.

Nick says that he has heard a rumour the Australian Open's Women's tournament will be held in Western Australia which he's excited about. He also mentions the the 'pace of play' policy coming in from the LPGA.

More LIV chat - the night tournament in Riyadh had no spectators and was, according to Nick and Mark, arguably LIV's worst event - and they're about to swing into their best event, LIV Adelaide.

Mark reads out the comments tour pro Marcus Fraser said on ABC Radio about the Australian Open.

Changes coming to the Monday Qualifier structure in some tournaments ....are Nick and Mark happy about this? Mark talks us through the remarkable performance of Will Chandler, the Monday Qualifier who beat Scottie Scheffler by 6. We discuss some of the great Monday Qualifier stories. And this inspires Nick's Top 5.

Wolfpacker Greg calls on the hotline with a question about governments and their support of other sports, but not golf to the extent he feels could be provided.

Plenty of feedback today to run through and during feedback Nick gives his tip for the Aussie he reckons might go all the way at Torrey Pines. We're checking our Betr app as we speak to suss the odds.

Then a voicemail comes in from Jon with a fun question for Nick and Mark.

We've had movement on the disaster that is the PING global intro music...thanks to a couple of wolfpackers. Watch this space.

And Marks masterclass is inspired by Thomas Detry after his great performance in Scottsdale at the weekend.

We're coming from Titleist and Footjoy HQ, and we're here thanks to our great partners:

• The watchMynumbers app, play smarter and use your data. Download from the App Store or Google Play;
• PING will help you play your best. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;
• Golf Clearance Outlet, visit them online here to find your nearest store, they're all over the country;
• Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia.
• Southern Golf Club - now with their brand new Simulator Room including Trackman.
• And of course Titleist and Footjoy!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see us on YouTube here.

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Paul from Melbourne had a listen to the bonus episode of Talk Birdie To Me yesterday with Michael Medway from Golf NSW, and left us a voicemail after hearing it with his thoughts.

We're coming from Titleist and Footjoy HQ, and we're here thanks to our great partners:

• The watchMynumbers app, play smarter and use your data. Download from the App Store or Google Play;
• PING will help you play your best. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;
• Golf Clearance Outlet, visit them online here to find your nearest store, they're all over the country;
• Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia.
• Southern Golf Club - now with their brand new Simulator Room including Trackman.
• And of course Titleist and Footjoy!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see us on YouTube here.

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Today we have a chat with the Chairman of Golf NSW Michael Medway about their support program for younger golfers on their journey into the big league.

He talks about the players they are supporting, and talks about Corey Lamb in particular and why they are investing in him. he tells us how the arrangements are structured, how the funding is released, the non-financial support they provide.

Michael also talks about what they have done with their prize money and payments for players in tournaments.

Michael explains why Golf NSW are separate to the national body, and why he has no desire to 'hand the keys' to Golf NSW to Golf Australia. He comments that his member clubs would 'revolt' if they did, and one of issues he sees is that Golf Australia is 'not run by golf people'. Michael says that the Golf Australia board is 'narrow-sighted' in their treatment of The Australian Open, and goes on to say that he wants to protect NSW events from what has happened to many other state opens saying that the Vic Open is a 'shadow of its' former self'.

We're coming from Titleist and Footjoy HQ, and we're here thanks to our great partners:

• The watchMynumbers app, play smarter and use your data. Download from the App Store or Google Play;
• PING will help you play your best. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;
• Golf Clearance Outlet, visit them online here to find your nearest store, they're all over the country;
• Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia.
• Southern Golf Club - now with their brand new Simulator Room including Trackman.
• And of course Titleist and Footjoy!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see us on YouTube here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A feedback pod this week where we run through more of your questions, comments, and feedback.

Lots of comments from you on the Links 100 list that Mark brought up last week on the pod, including a pretty blunt assessment of Pebble from one Wolfpacker. Nick and Mark run through Pebble hole by hole and give their thoughts.

Mark recommends a wonderful series of archive vision that he loves - Shell's Wonderful World of Golf. Some of the videos are here.

We have a voicemail from Grant in Melbourne with a question on how to get the most out a lesson with a PGA Pro. And Nick talks about working with his old coach Neil Simpson who Grant has also had a lesson with.

Jason Day's outfit at Pebble. We discuss following a question from Wolfpacker Paul. Mark tells a story about clothing at Huntingdale from years gone by.

A funny question, in the sense of how it came about, from Steve about the Webex Series.

And a serious question asked about James Sutherland, phrased a little bluntly, but whether it's directed at us or somebody else, we'll always discuss it.

And we finish with some fun stories about shagging balls.

We're coming from Titleist and Footjoy HQ, and we're here thanks to our great partners:

• The watchMynumbers app, play smarter and use your data. Download from the App Store or Google Play;
• PING will help you play your best. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;
• Golf Clearance Outlet, visit them online here to find your nearest store, they're all over the country;
• Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia.
• Southern Golf Club - now with their brand new Simulator Room including Trackman.
• And of course Titleist and Footjoy!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see us on YouTube here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Voicemail today from Brett in Brisbane with a great story about a set of clubs being discarded when they absolutely should not have been - how it happened, and what happened next to resolve this heinous situation.

We're coming from Titleist and Footjoy HQ, and we're here thanks to our great partners:

• The watchMynumbers app, play smarter and use your data. Download from the App Store or Google Play;
• PING will help you play your best. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;
• Golf Clearance Outlet, visit them online here to find your nearest store, they're all over the country;
• Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia.
• Southern Golf Club - now with their brand new Simulator Room including Trackman.
• And of course Titleist and Footjoy!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see us on YouTube here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Mark tries to, after 5-finger discounting a pair of FootJoys a couple of weeks ago, to do the same with a Titleist putter that he has found. In fairness it is quite stunning. Then his eyes turn to a new pair of FootJoys. As Al Czervik said, the mans a menace.

We discuss Pebble Beach. Mark loved the drone shots, and Nick is a fan of the drone shot tracer. The weather was a bit mixed, leads to a chat as to why some golfers play well in the rain and others don't. Nick has a theory which he talks through. Mark tells a story about playing in driving rain in Scotland.

Nick decides to have one final crack at a replacement for Wolfpack. He's had another dinner party with the Mount Lawley Toffee Nose Crowd *. Does he succeed? Spoiler alert, no.

Minjee Lee is using a long putter, Nick and Mark discuss and talk about whether you can go back and forth.

Mark has been looking at the TGL ratings and talks to them, and about Tiger being pinged by the shot clock. There was a suggestion on Twitter from a Wolfpacker about a shot clock idea which Mark and Nick discuss.

Rumours get louder on the Australian Open...we chat about them. And then a voicemail comes in from Pete with a comment/question on slow play. Nick has another idea to solve slow play....could be a bit evil but it could work.

And Mark has some audio of the loudest noise ever on a golf course, we play it.

After the Turn, Marks Top 5 is on the most amazing up and downs he has seen. We get to PING Global results and we have a structural issue....we have no intro. Nick didn't like the AI one Mark created, and we haven't come up with any other option, so we are in a hole. Unprofessional.

Lots of feedback, including a 59 for Mark to rate - dangerous after incurring the wrath of David Micheluzzi a couple of weeks ago

And Nick's masterclass is simple but powerful. Oh and why does Mark call Mike Cocking from OCM an arsehole ? Awkward.

As usual, unfortunately, Mark wants to finish the show with an AI song created on the spot. Does it go well? Does it crash and burn?

We're coming from Titleist and Footjoy HQ, and we're here thanks to our great partners:

• The watchMynumbers app, play smarter and use your data. Download from the App Store or Google Play;
• PING will help you play your best. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;
• Golf Clearance Outlet, visit them online here to find your nearest store, they're all over the country;
• Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia.
• Southern Golf Club - now with their brand new Simulator Room including Trackman.
• And of course Titleist and Footjoy!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see us on YouTube here.

* the crowd may not be actually be from Mount Lawley or toffee nosed.

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A bonus feedback pod today with plenty of questions and comments from the Wolfpackers.

We chat to Daniel about his mate Mark claiming a single figure handicap. Is he right or not? What qualifies? We discuss and put Mark's claim under the microscope.

Jake asks about anchoring from pros.

Dave has a view ideas on how make TGL a little more interesting.

Peter is curious as to where Aussie golfer Kurt Barnes is these days.

And in an awkward turn of events, Nick walks out on the pod before it's finished. Why does he walk out? Have a listen to todays bonus pod.

We're coming from Titleist and Footjoy HQ, and we're here thanks to our great partners:

• The watchMynumbers app, play smarter and use your data. Download from the App Store or Google Play;
• PING will help you play your best. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;
• Golf Clearance Outlet, visit them online here to find your nearest store, they're all over the country;
• Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia.
• Southern Golf Club - now with their brand new Simulator Room including Trackman.
• And of course Titleist and Footjoy!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see us on YouTube here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott from Brisbane was watching the Webex in Rosebud at the weekend and had a few comments on what he saw, so he did what any good Wolfpacker would do and left us a voicemail.

We're coming from Titleist and Footjoy HQ, and we're here thanks to our great partners:

• The watchMynumbers app, play smarter and use your data. Download from the App Store or Google Play;
• PING will help you play your best. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;
• Golf Clearance Outlet, visit them online here to find your nearest store, they're all over the country;
• Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia.
• Southern Golf Club - now with their brand new Simulator Room including Trackman.
• And of course Titleist and Footjoy!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see us on YouTube here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week again the pod starts with a discussion about slow play, following the legendary Dottie Peppers comments at the weekend - more on Dottie later in the pod. Nick and Mark discuss slow play and how it is endemic in the game at the moment. Nick describes it as a 'joke' at the moment.

Nick watched Jak Carter play at the weekend and he and Mark chat about his performance - Mark wants to know if Jak is still an exceptional iron player.

Torrey Pines at the weekend copped some weather, but worse a number of withdrawals with illness - including Marks fave Ludvig Åberg. We discuss Torrey Pines, and Nick gives his somewhat unflattering view of the course. He loves the location, but feels the course is not up to scratch. Mark wants to know could a redo be done? Nick would like to see the rough shaved down a bit around the greens, it wouldn't salvage the course but it would make it interesting.

Nick raises the movie Invincible and recommends it a watch for the Talk Birdie 'family'....more on the name shortly.

Hotline rings, and it's Anthony from Melbourne who stopped playing golf for a numbers of years, but is back playing with his son and tells us how he's going.

Mark was reading a Top 100 list this week, the Top 100 Links courses - voted by course architects. We run through the list, discuss the rankings. Like all lists, Nick and Mark are in vigorous agreement on some rankings, and in vigorous disagreement on others.

After the turn, Nick does the Top 5 fastest players he enjoys watching, or playing with. Does Keegan Bradley make the cut? Spoiler alert, he does not.

Lots of feedback and questions this week. Topics include Corey Lamb, slow play, Masterclass feedback, and a decision from you on the name for the Talk Birdie family.

Mark has been playing (again) with his AI app and he's created a new PING Global results opener which he loves. Nick hasn't heard it, and hears it live on the pod for the first time....what is his verdict? We find out.

And Marks masterclass is inspired by Harris English going through his pre-shot routine on the practice range and how it ensures your rhythm is in sync with the golf course.

We're coming from Titleist and Footjoy HQ, and we're here thanks to our great partners:

• The watchMynumbers app, play smarter and use your data. Download from the App Store or Google Play;
• PING will help you play your best. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;
• Golf Clearance Outlet, visit them online here to find your nearest store, they're all over the country;
• Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia.
• Southern Golf Club - now with their brand new Simulator Room including Trackman.
• And of course Titleist and Footjoy!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see us on YouTube here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick and Mark were discussing slow play on last weeks podcast and Ken from Murray Downs left us a voicemail with a few thoughts and a couple of solutions that he's in favour of.

We always love getting voicemails and it's easy - click the orange button on the Talk Birdie website here , you can do it from your phone or computer, it takes about a minute or so and you're done!

We're coming from Titleist and Footjoy HQ, and we're here thanks to our great partners:

• The watchMynumbers app, play smarter and use your data. Download from the App Store or Google Play;
• PING will help you play your best. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;
• Golf Clearance Outlet, visit them online here to find your nearest store, they're all over the country;
• Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia.
• Southern Golf Club - now with their brand new Simulator Room including Trackman.
• And of course Titleist and Footjoy!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, send a voicemail here, and see us on YouTube here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.