The Thing About Golf Podcast

Our guest this episode is one of New Zealand’s most successful professional players, boasting four European Tour titles and nine victories in this part of the world, including two New Zealand Opens. 

But there is much more to Turner than just golf. The long-time touring professional turned course architect and commentator sits down with The Thing About Golf host John Huggan to talk all things golf and life in a compelling discussion which covers everything from his “just by chance” start in the game, to the current state of professional play.

Golf is different things to different people, which is part of the game’s great charm. For some, it’s clubs and gear which grab the attention, while others focus on the swing. But for a select few, it is the laws governing the game, and one of the best in the business - recently retired R&A rules guru David Rickman - joins John Huggan on this episode for a fascinating chat about life around the top echelons of the game and the ever-evolving rules we play by. 

He first burst onto the scene as a talented amateur with a sensational finish in the 2014 Australian Masters, followed by an 11-hour overnight drive to Sydney to qualify for the following week’s Australian Open. 

It has been 11 years and five professional tournament victories since and Lucas Herbert has amassed some stories - and wisdom - along the way. Unafraid to share his opinions, Herbert is always a good interview and this sit down with John Huggan doesn’t disappoint. 

From LIV, to Q School, to the mixed Australian Open format, the 29-year-old pulls no punches in what is an entertaining and thought-provoking chat.

It was a meteoric rise to fame for Karen Stupples when she claimed the 2004 Women’s British Open with a final-round 64 after opening eagle-albatross on Sunday. 

However, Stupples was never guaranteed to get to the LPGA, nor even play golf for a living. 

In fact, if she didn't hate washing dishes so much, she might have ended up doing something else entirely.

Stupples talks about that and much more in this delightful chat with John Huggan.

There are many in the golf commentary business who add little to a broadcast, but Sky Sports’ Tim Barter is certainly not among them. 

From on-course interviews to breaking down golf swings, Barter is a master of multiple crafts and in this absorbing conversation with John Huggan, he tells the story of his journey to becoming regarded as one of the best in the golf broadcast business.

Rich Beem is one of the game’s best characters of the past 30 years and his 2002 PGA Championship win over a charging Tiger Woods remains among the most entertaining finishes to a tournament this century. 

John Huggan sat down with Beam recently to learn about where he came from, what it’s like to win a major, Team USA’s best chance of winning the Ryder Cup away from home and plenty more. 

Beem is engaging, thoughtful and eloquent and knows how to tell a good story, which all makes for an excellent listen. 

John Huggan sits down with Seve Ballesteros’ son, Javier, to talk life, golf, the Ryder Cup, the state of the world game and plenty more.

Few golfers have made an impact on the game comparable to Seve. The Spanish magician entertained and thrilled crowds worldwide with his extraordinary skill and matador-like personality. He remains to this day one of the most popular players in history. 

John’s chat with Javier for episode 129 offers a fascinating and compelling insight into events and people, past and present, from a perspective we rarely get to see.

There is perhaps no more familiar voice in the game than that of Jim Nantz, host of CBS’ golf coverage, including almost 40 years of The Masters. 

In this candid chat with John Huggan, Nantz reveals his journey from humble beginnings in the game to his start in broadcasting and a career so successful, he now owns a home (with its own golf hole) at the iconic Pebble Beach. 

Nantz is charming, funny and articulate and has a knack for telling a good story, of which he has plenty.

At the age of four, Peter Baker wrote down that he wanted to be a professional golfer. At 14, he played representative golf with the seniors. At 21, he claimed his first European Tour title and five years later - the same year he represented Europe in The Ryder Cup - he added two more.

A lifetime spent in the game has taught Baker much about both life and golf. In a fascinating episode 127, he sits down with John Huggan to reflect on a 37-year career playing the game for a living.

For most, golf is a passion, but for many others, it’s also a business. The golf industry is both large and diverse, ranging from tour professionals and media companies to travel and retail equipment sales. 

So how does the game stack up in the world of sports business and what are the similarities — and differences — to other sports? Sports business expert and journalist Richard Gillis has a duel interest in golf, both as a lifelong player and having covered the game professionally. 

His takes on LIV, the media environment, the long-term viability of TV as a financial support and much more are intelligent and thought provoking — whether you are in the golf business or not.