Author: Steve Carroll
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; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
World Handicap System
What are your responsibilities under the World Handicap System?
From the Clubhouse: Are we seeing the death of roll ups?
They destroyed our golf courses two years ago – so are we set for a repeat invasion?
How much do we actually value our handicaps?
World Handicap System
The controversial Playing Conditions Calculator has changed – but has it worked?
From the Clubhouse: Have clubs got to grips with golf’s controversial handicap scheme?
Club
My ball landed in a different teeing area on the same hole – can I tee up again from there?
We all break this rule routinely – so is it time we started getting punished?
From the Clubhouse: Does golf really take too long?
How can you put in a score for handicap without holing out? Introducing ‘most likely score’
From the Clubhouse: Could five foot gimmes become a part of handicapping in the UK?
19th hole
Should you have to buy the drinks after a hole-in-one? We have a confession to make
Golf’s equality battle: It’s time to break down the barriers
World Handicap System problems will last decades – so get used to it
Rules of Golf
Tree-gate: Was everything in the Patrick Reed rules controversy by the book?
From the Clubhouse: Why do we get so angry when we see a ruling we don’t like?
WHS has left club competitions in a mess – and only you can fix it
Courses and Travel
NCG Top 100s: Take a deep dive inside our list of Scotland’s best courses
Club
My fourball partner hasn’t turned up – what do the Rules of Golf say I should do?
Club
The ‘cruel’ trend that shows how much the cost-of-living crisis is hurting our clubs
Will controversial changes to the World Handicap System come into force at your club?
Club
I hit my ball straight into the ground – can I have relief from the pitch mark?
World Handicap System
From the Clubhouse: Has a big flaw in the World Handicap System been exposed?
Features
The shocking true cost of playing GB&I’s top 50 courses: Are golfers being priced out?
From the Clubhouse: Are we being priced out of playing the UK’s top golf courses?
Why you won’t be using scorecards for much longer
World Handicap System
All I want for Christmas… is to submit a World Handicap System score
From the Clubhouse: What do you value about being a golf club member?
Dictatorship or democracy? How to run a successful golf club committee
From the Clubhouse: The good, the bad, and the ugly of golf club committees
Is it ever OK to throw a golf club?
Golf clubs: Are your fees going up? You must prepare your members for any shocks
Winter qualifiers? Someone please stop the madness!
