Ep145: Why We Love UK Links Golf, 'Zone Days', Top 5 Comebacks from Injury, and 'Does Anyone Actually Like The Evian Course?'

It's a great time of the golfing year, the Scottish Open this week, and The Open Championship next week. And the Evian is on this week as well, Nick and Mark discuss the course (which they both dislike) and ask does anyone actually like the course?We chat about Links Golf in the UK. Nick and Mark love the UK's links courses, particularly the smaller ones that are lesser known, they discuss what they like about them, one of the things is what they call the 'honest bounce' you get on UK Links courses. Mark recommends that you have some smaller UK Links courses on your bucket list.Nick talks about why he had two putters when he played The Open Championship, and how the sound of the crowds in the UK are different to anywhere.Nick talks about 'zone days' and how he and his caddy adjusted how they worked together when he was 'in the zone'.We discuss The Open Championship's 'Last Chance Qualifier' at Royal Birkdale in 2026. A fantastic idea.Nick is excited as the winner of the John Deere Classic in Illinois, Brian Campbell, was the shortest hitter in the field.Aussie golfer Jeff Guan, after a dreadful accident on the golf course, is planning for his comeback event in Darwin. We discuss the challenges he'll be dealing with, but obviously wish him all the best as he takes this next step.Our mates at Golfies have a fun comp starting on July 10 for The Open Championship. Use the codeword Bryson, get 50% off, and if Bryson wins The Open - you get a full refund! And you are still in with a red hot shot to win the 25 grand Thailand trip if you win 8 matches. Deets here (Bryson comp starts on the 11th).Update on the Top100 list, one of the honchos at the list has agreed to come on Talk Birdie To Me next week to discuss the list, and how they reached the decisions they did.Top 5 from Mark, inspired by Jeff Guan, the Top 5 comebacks from injury in golf. Nick has the PING globals and there has been plenty of action to run through - including a ripping performance from Nicks mate, tour pro Austin Truslow who was on the pod a couple of weeks ago. And we have a new entry into Nicks Top 5 womens swings, which is fast becoming a Top 20, which comes from kiwi tour pro Amelia Garvey.Lots of feedback, three key themes this week: the hardest first hole in golf, and Mark asked for wolfpacker suggestions on the best holes for 'first tee banter and heckling', one of the suggestions for hardest first hole was also where Mark got his first ace! Feedback also on the discussion about whether a male scratch golfer would beat an LPGA Tour Pro, and plenty of comments on young Jasper from last week - if you haven't seen his swing, he is a 9-year old single handicapper, watch him here.And a great masterclass, which is less masterclass and more recommendation this week, from Nick on 7-Woods.We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:Hostplus, Talk Birdie To Me's official retirement partnerBMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;The Find My Player app - follow every player on every tour;And Southern Golf Club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.