From the Clubhouse: Are our PGA pros a tradition worth saving?

The most important person in the golf club, or a tradition that belongs in golf’s history bin?

In this episode of the From the Clubhouse podcast, Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll consider the role of the club PGA professional, what they mean to us, and whether they still have a place in a game that’s being pushed to modernise.

You might not be surprised to learn the duo are very appreciative of the work they do – but they look at why some clubs have gone another way. Is it change for change sake?

They also get into countback. We all know about back-9, back-6, and so on but do you know how far down the rabbit hole you can go? We reveal what the rules say.

Is it the best way to sort out a winner? Should we have playoffs for big board competitions?

And we also discuss USGA research which suggests how far you hit your 7-iron should determine from which tees you would play. Does it also make the game quicker? We get stuck in…

From the Clubhouse is produced in association with TaylorMade Golf.

Now listen to the From the Clubhouse podcast on the place of the PGA Professional

You can listen by clicking the banners on this piece, or through this specific link.

What do you think? Is the club professional as vital as ever? And what do you think of these countback rules? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on X.

• NOW READ: Is your 7-iron the key to speeding up golf?

• NOW READ: ‘I prefer to be rubbish on my own’: Do club golfers ever need a caddie?