The Goat Track

We dissect Tucky’s wild, sun-scorched round at Zimbali Lakes — a journey so dramatic it’s now simply known as Touching the Sun. Was it the mid-round wrap? The long-sleeve jersey? Or the fateful choice to forgo a cold beer?

JDV, T and Tucky break down all things Open Championship including the course, the favorite's and the Saffas in the field. We also briefly touch on Tucky's unreal round of golf last week and hear about JDV's planned winter golf trip to Cape Town.

This week we’re joined by Lynton from Boekenhoutskloof, one of South Africa’s most iconic wineries. We trace their journey from humble small-batch beginnings to becoming the powerhouse behind some of the country’s most recognisable wine labels.

Naturally, we mix in some golf — celebrating the South African legends who’ve hoisted the Claret Jug, from Bobby Locke to Gary Player, Ernie Els, and Louis Oosthuizen. It’s a proper blend of grapes and greats.

We also drop details on an exclusive wine special for The Open:

A little wine. A little history. A lot of love for The Open

This week on The Goat Track, TBag is joined by fellow golf junkie and media maven Ben Karpinski for a wide-ranging chat that covers the beautiful madness of loving this game. From the thrill of being a true golf sicko to debates around the pro scene, it’s a proper dive into the good stuff.

We shine a light on Casandra Alexander’s rise, try to unpack Tommy Fleetwood’s North American struggles, and go all-in on why Keegan Bradley simply has to be on that Ryder Cup team. Ben also takes us through his recent trip to Scotland—a trip that reminded him why he fell in love with the game in the first place.

This week on The Goat Track, we’re all in on the U.S. Open—and Oakmont is the perfect villain. We dig into the course’s storied, punishing history and take a fascinating detour into the origins of the stimpmeter (spoiler: it all started right here). We also revisit Ernie Els’ gritty 1994 win, touching on the drama that nearly derailed it.

We get our picks locked in, a fresh update on the Major GOAT leaderboard, and discuss a new wrinkle added to Wunderpar. Plus, we stir the pot in our Goat Track Golfchamps pool and launch some fun “games within the game” for Oakmont week.

If you like your majors fast, firm, and just a little unhinged—this episode’s for you.

On this week’s The Goat Track, we go coast to coast—from the Eastern Cape’s underrated gems to chaos on the global stage. We chat golf in the Eastern Cape, then pivot to Hoffs’ personal renaissance as he rekindles his love affair with the game.

Is the PGA Championship really a major? We throw it in the ring. We also unpack Golfchamps disasters, dissect Rory’s form moving forward, and explore the curious case of crumbling driver faces.

There’s speculation flying about who TBag will be caddying for in August, a bizarre "Whitehouse" golf delegation making headlines, and rumors of a potential LIV Golf event landing in South Africa. Plus, we raise some pointed questions about the latest SA Top 100 rankings—because something smells a bit off.

Tee it up with us for another punchy, unfiltered ride through the business and banter of golf.

JDV, Hoff and T muse over some important topics - who is the current best Saffa golfer? Is Portugal a better golf destination than Scotland? Who makes a good outsider for a Golfchamps team this week?

They say Muirfield in Scotland is a lunch club with a world-class golf course attached—and we got a taste of that tradition right here in South Africa. T and JDV had the chance to experience the charm and ceremony of a typical Muirfield day by teeing it up in the bi-annual Muirfield Quaich, hosted at Gowrie Farm in the KZN Midlands. In this episode, they unpack the meaning behind the mysterious “quaich,” the rituals that define the day, and the nuances of foursomes golf. On the back nine of the pod, they explore the newly added holes at Gowrie Farm and why the course is such a perfect stage for match play.

Tour Championship winner Michael Hollick joins The Goat Track for a wide-ranging chat on life inside—and outside—the ropes. After a strong start to his professional career, Michael faced a tough stretch mid-way through his journey. He opens up about how confronting the possibility of stepping away from the game brought him unexpected clarity and helped him rediscover his best form. We also dive into why the Sunshine Tour remains a hidden gem for local talent—and yes, Michael called the Masters winner before it happened.

A grounded, insightful look at the mindset of a player who's grown through the game.

It finally happened—Rory McIlroy slips on the green jacket at Augusta, and we break down every twist in his rollercoaster final round. From clutch brilliance to nervy moments, it was vintage Rory drama. Justin Rose filled the Bryson-sized protagonist void with near-perfect golf, making Rory earn the career grand slam.

We dive into the electric walk from the 18th green, why the Butler Cabin ceremony might be past its expiry date, and how our squads fared in the Major GOAT Draft. Then we close with some bold predictions: how many more majors can Rory realistically win from here?

This is one for the books.