Episodes

  • The Thing About Golf #131: Tim Barter
    Nov 19 2024

    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.

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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • THE THING ABOUT GOLF: #130 Rich Beem
    Nov 6 2024

    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.

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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • THE THING ABOUT GOLF: #129 JAVIER BALLESTEROS
    Oct 22 2024

    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.

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    1 hr
  • The Thing About Golf: #128 Jim Nantz
    Oct 9 2024

    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.

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    59 mins
  • The Thing About Golf: #127 Peter Baker
    Sep 25 2024

    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.

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • The Thing About Golf: #126 Richard Gillis
    Sep 11 2024

    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.


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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • The Thing About Golf: #125 Trevor Immelman
    Aug 28 2024

    Rarely has a player sported the green jacket with such style than our latest guest and one of golf’s greatest assets, Trevor Immelman.

    However, there is more to the 2008 Masters champion than a pretty golf swing.

    The 2022 International Presidents Cup captain sits down with John Huggan to talk about his beginnings in the game, his thoughts on the Presidents Cup, the LIV/PGA Tour negotiations, where TV commentators get it wrong and much more.

    Immelman is one of the game’s best ambassadors and after listening to this chat, you’ll gain an insight into why.

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • The Thing About Golf: #124 Ryan French
    Aug 14 2024

    Our special guest this week discusses the new media landscape, building a media business when you had no intention of ever doing so and the challenges of monetising what started out as a hobby.

    There is no shortage of underdog stories in Hollywood, but in real life - in the day to day news media - those narratives are harder to find.

    Media has changed, though, and with social media eliminating almost all barriers to entry, there are new players finding their voice - and an audience - in the space formerly occupied by legacy media.

    This is as true in golf as any other section of the media and Ryan French is one of the players in this space, although it is more by accident than by design.

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    1 hr and 4 mins