Ireland is seen by many to be the spiritual home of bucket-list golf.

So why is it becoming almost impossible to actually play?

In this episode, we sit down with Sharon Smurfit — former Director of Golf at The K Club and one of the most connected voices in Irish golf — to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes.

Episode Links: Sharon's Website, Sharon's Instagram, Subscribe to Sharon's Newsletter, Talk Golf Ireland

From sold-out tee sheets and soaring green fees to the “links bias” shaping Top 100 lists, Sharon gives us an insider’s view of modern Irish golf: who benefits, who gets squeezed, and why availability — not price — is the real battleground.

We also dive into:
• What it’s actually like running a Ryder Cup venue
• Celebrity moments (including Seve casually in the pro shop)
• Why some world-class courses never make the lists
• Hidden gem Irish courses worth your time
• The future of women’s golf in Ireland

If you’re planning an Ireland golf trip — or wondering whether the boom has gone too far — this episode might change how you see it.

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Learn more about our journey on our website Top100.in10.co.uk

You can even sign up to our podcast mailing list on the website and get a limited edition Top 100 in 10 ball marker when you complete your profile

Or follow our live journey on Instagram @top100in10 or Tiktok

In Part 2 of my Zen Golf visit in Sheffield, Will (Head of Education at Zen Golf) gives me a putting lesson that completely changes how you read greens, control pace, and stop guessing the break.

Instead of obsessing over mechanics, we learn how to “see gravity” first — by finding the straight putt (12 o’clock) using a simple clock-face method, then reverse-engineering the ball’s entry point from the hole back to the ball. It’s a game-changing way to build intent, commit to the line, and massively improve distance control (without overthinking your stroke).

If you struggle with pace on long putts, misread left-to-right breakers, or feel lost on slippery downhillers, this episode gives you a repeatable strategy you can take straight to the course.

🎥 Want to see the slopes and the lesson in action? Watch the full video version on YouTube (linked in the show notes).
⛳️ And if you missed Part 1: “The Simulator That Moves Under Your Feet (ZenGolf x TrackMan)”, listen to that first for the full story.

Send us fan mail

Support the show

Learn more about our journey on our website Top100.in10.co.uk

You can even sign up to our podcast mailing list on the website and get a limited edition Top 100 in 10 ball marker when you complete your profile

Or follow our live journey on Instagram @top100in10 or Tiktok

What if your golf simulator didn’t just show the shot — but made you feel it under your feet?

In this episode of the Top 100 Golf Podcast, we get exclusive first access to the ZenGolf Swing Stage, a groundbreaking golf simulator platform that moves beneath you to replicate real on-course lies, slopes, and stances — fully integrated with TrackMan.

We take this technology inside one of the world’s greatest courses, Royal County Down, and test whether indoor golf can finally deliver true, meaningful practice — not just perfect lies and flat shots.

This is a live playing lesson, exploring:

• How slope and lie actually change decision-making
• Why most range practice doesn’t transfer to the course
• The psychology of playing better golf through realistic practice
• How this technology could reshape coaching, pace of play, and winter training
• Why this might be the future of golf simulators and indoor practice

If you’ve ever wondered whether simulator golf can truly replicate real golf — or how elite players and everyday golfers can practice smarter, not harder — this episode is a must-listen.

🎯 Featuring:

• ZenGolf Swing Stage (moving platform technology)
• TrackMan integration
• Royal County Down played indoors
• Insights into modern motor learning and representative practice

This is not a gimmick.
This is a glimpse into where golf practice is heading next.

Zen Green Stage on Insta

Zen Golf On YouTube

Send us fan mail

Support the show

Learn more about our journey on our website Top100.in10.co.uk

You can even sign up to our podcast mailing list on the website and get a limited edition Top 100 in 10 ball marker when you complete your profile

Or follow our live journey on Instagram @top100in10 or Tiktok