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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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.

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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

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There are only two golfers in history who have won more major championships than Walter Hagen — Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

And yet, Hagen’s name is often missing from modern golf conversations.

In this feature episode, we explore the life and legacy of the man who didn’t just win eleven major championships — he changed what it meant to be a professional golfer.

From caddying his way into the game to dominating match play, captaining an unbeaten Ryder Cup side, and redefining how professionals dressed, travelled, and carried themselves, Hagen quietly dismantled golf’s rigid class system.

This isn’t just a biography. It’s a story about status, psychology, confidence, and why modern professional golf — from Arnold Palmer to Tiger Woods — looks the way it does today.

If you’ve ever wondered how golf’s professionals earned their place at the centre of the sport, this is the story you’ve been missing.

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Playing the top 100 golf courses in the UK and Ireland sounds simple on paper — and impossibly complex in practice.

In this episode, we unpack a father-and-son journey that began after COVID and quickly became a masterclass in access, etiquette, persistence, and people skills. From invite-only clubs and opaque booking systems to waitlists, spreadsheets, and lucky breaks, this conversation reveals how elite golf really works behind the scenes.

We explore private and semi-private courses like Ardfin, Loch Lomond, Queenwood, JCB and Skibo Castle, and why money alone doesn’t open doors. Respect, timing, etiquette, and being a good guest often matter more. We also cover scams targeting hopeful golfers, how to verify access properly, and where trusted communities quietly keep opportunities moving.

There are moments of pure magic too: empty fairways at Royal St George’s, the Old Course singles line, and the strange generosity that turns strangers into playing partners. Along the way, we question course rankings, rising green fees, local versus visitor pricing, and what “fair but demanding” architecture really means for everyday golfers.

The big takeaway? The Top 100 isn’t just a list of courses — it’s a web of relationships. Build those well, and the journey gives you far more than a scorecard.

If you’re chasing iconic golf, or just curious how access really works at the top end of the game, this one’s for you.

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If you’ve ever stood over a putt thinking “don’t miss”… or watched one bad shot turn into three bad holes, this episode is for you.

In this bonus episode of The Top 100 in 10 Golf Podcast, we’re joined by Andrew “The Cog Coach” — a cognitive performance golf coach who works with tour pros, elite amateurs, and weekend golfers — to break down the mental game without the vague “just be confident” nonsense.

Andrew's Website, Insta Profile, 8 Week Game Improvement Challenge

We cover practical mental tools you can use immediately, including:

• What a “good mental game” actually means on the course
• How to stop your brain fixating on hazards (water, OB, bunkers)
• The “inner caddy” method to improve self-talk and commitment
• Meaningful practice: why smashing 100 balls doesn’t translate
• How to add pressure to range sessions (and why the 3rd rep matters most)
• The single most important habit for performing under pressure: a repeatable pre-shot routine
• A real case study: 28 handicap to 10 in a year by focusing on mindset + practice structure first
• Simple strategy that makes golf more enjoyable (and often improves scoring)

Whether you’re chasing single figures, trying to break 80/90, or you just want to enjoy your golf again, this episode will change how you think about the game.

🎧 Listen now, and then tell us: what’s the worst mental advice you’ve ever been given on a golf course?

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

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What is professional golf really like when the cameras aren’t rolling?

In this episode of The Top 100 in 10 Golf Podcast, we sit down with Welsh No. 1 Toby Hunt for a brutally honest conversation about the reality of chasing a career in pro golf.

Give Toby a follow on Instagram

We go behind the scenes of Q-School pressure, mini tour economics, and the razor-thin margins that can define an entire season. Toby shares what it’s like to miss Stage Two by a single shot, how a last-minute DP World Tour call-up can turn your week upside down, and why resilience matters more than reputation.

You’ll hear stories from:

• Winning the Welsh PGA with just 12 clubs and seven straight birdies
• Funding life on mini tours and the true cost of travel, caddies, and entry fees
• Navigating Challenge Tour categories and DP World Tour pathways
• First-tee nerves, snap hooks, and fighting back mid-round
• Winter training in the UK, simulators, putting tech, and why putting moves the needle
• Quiet confidence boosts that keep players going when results don’t

This is a conversation about the craft, the grind, and the mental toughness required to stay in professional golf — without the highlight-reel gloss.

If you’re a golfer who loves the game, competes seriously, or has ever wondered how close (or far away) pro golf really is, this episode is a must-listen.

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

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We map the next year of our Top 100 quest, from booked tee times and member‑led matches to new features that spotlight overlooked courses and real golf life. Access wins, closed gates, and community help shape the plan as we chase St Andrews and invite listeners to play a part.

• nine courses confirmed including Delamere, Walton Heath Old & New, Swinley Forest, Burnham & Berrow, Wallasey, Castletown and St Andrews target
• two‑day society event with Ryder Cup style format at Burnham & Berrow
• call for follows to unlock club access and content
• member match at Castletown to learn course through its people
• launch of lost courses series beyond the Top 100
• listener nominations for rising or returning clubs
• Lost Ball Diaries with tagged finds and prizes
• bonus episodes: tour pro interview, rankings panelist, putter fitting, golf coach‑psychologist
• signature hole challenge expansion and standings
• Chris’s hole‑in‑one quest at Top 100 venues
• Birdie Kitty to stop leaving putts short
• candid look at exclusivity, logistics and Ireland planning
• open invite for members and clubs to host or share contacts

Wherever you're watching or listening, could you hit follow or could you hit subscribe? It takes a microsecond of your time, it doesn't cost you anything, but we get higher numbers that we can then go to the clubs and we can then get greater amounts of involvement from them.

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