From the Clubhouse: Drilling into the best winter golf formats
What makes a good winter golf format? What will get you out of the warm confines of your house and onto the course?
On this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin go on a voyage of discovery – discussing everything from greenkeeper’s revenge to Winterwinds and one quite incredible competition that would need half an hour in the clubhouse – and probably several pints – to sort out!
Steve gets himself into a state over trees on courses and, if that wasn’t enough light entertainment for you all, he makes Tom do a Rules of Golf quiz.
How do you think he’ll get on? Get clicking and get listening…
What are your favourite winter golf formats? Do you agree with Steve on trees? Let us know your thoughts with a tweet.
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
