Di Dougherty meets: Radio and TV presenter Georgie Bingham

How is your golf at the moment? 

My golf is very up and down! My handicap is 18, going on 8, going on 28! I really need to master putting this year then I don’t see why I can’t get it down to about 12 or 10.

I’m a member at Foxhills in Surrey which is not only a good challenge but is picturesque, really sociable and has a fantastic health club too! I’m also a member at Knightsbridge Golf School in London so I can play there when I don’t have enough time to get out of town.

You are a radio and TV presenter – who is the best TV personality you have played golf with and why?

I’m competitive so, while I like good banter on the course, I also like a good game. However you can’t go far wrong with Dom Joly. It is never a quiet round!

Who is the best sportsman you have played golf with?

Probably my favourite was Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave, he was my fourball partner at a tournament in Bermuda last year and unsurprisingly he hates to lose! I like that quality, it answers the question about how someone could be at the top of his sport for so long!

Do you prefer inland or seaside golf and what’s your favourite course?

I love a bit of links golf. I am a proper seaside girl, having spent most of my life on the Suffolk coast.

I’m also a long hitter so the bounce and run suits my game. It’s hard to pick a favourite but I was lucky enough to play Royal Portrush on a bright, dry, sunny day last year.

How closely do you follow golf on TV?

My golf watching has been a little impaired since I started Weekend Sports Breakfast on TalkSport and doing Daybreak. So that has ruined my Sunday nights watching the PGA coverage which I adore, but I’ll watch as much as I can, and if there’s golf on the TV, it’s on in my house!

Who are your favourites?

I’m a huge fan of Sergio Garcia and still really hope the Spaniard has a Major in him.
I was also really happy to see Justin Rose win the US Open, he is one of golf’s nice guys. Beautiful swing too! Jason Dufner is also a great watch. Waggle, waggle, waggle, Smack! Going back, Seve Ballesteros was a genius and one of the stars who hooked me on to watching golf.

Then there is Phil Mickelson for his audacity and I also love Ernie Els.

That’s quite a few!

How nervous do you get playing golf?

I am absolutely fine off the tee – and because nerves can mean adrenaline, which means more power, then I tend to use that to my advantage with the driver. But with the putter I really suffer; particularly in big tournaments where I talk myself out of putts that I need to make and that’s the part of my game I have to work on most.