State Of The Game

Washington journalist and golf nut Arthur MacMillan joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri to chat Premier Golf League, Jon Rahm and Covid, the US Open and plenty more.

The impact of Hideki's win in his homeland and the PGA Tour's Player Impact Program. Plenty to talk about when eight time major winning caddy and Japan resident Tom Watson joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri for Episode 111 of State of the Game.

Geoff Shackelford and Mike Clayton have been two of the most consistent and credible voices in the distance debate for the past 20 years and with the governing bodies looking likely to finally act, they have their say on Episode 110.

He writes too infrequently but when Phil Blackmar puts pen to paper it is always worth reading. The former PGA Tour player turned Golf Channel analyst joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri on Episode 109 to talk about his most recent blog post, Golf's Biggest Self. You can read the post here (https://pblackmar.wordpress.com/2021/01/02/golfs-biggest-self/) and the rest of Blackmar's blog posts here. (https://pblackmar.wordpress.com) Also, make sure to sign up for Geoff Shackelford's new email newsletter The Quadilateral (https://www.thequadrilateral.golf) to keep up with all things Majors related from one of the game's few truly independent voices.

A look at the 2020 Masters from both inside and outside the ropes when Lukas Michel joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri.

On Episode 107 we welcome author Daniel Wexler to discuss his latest book A Timeless Game but quickly run off topic into the future of golf in urban centres, equipment technology and the distance debate and there is some pontificating early on about Brandel Chamblee's personal attack on co-host Mike Clayton and those who agree with his views on the game. Find Daniel's book on Amazon here (https://www.amazon.com/Timeless-Game-Some-Thoughts-Topics/dp/B08CWB7QYH/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=A+Timeless+Game&qid=1604004500&sr=8-1)

It's the topic everyone is talking about but not everyone is Mike Clayton and Geoff Shackelford. Two of the most respected voices in the game weigh in on Bryson, Winged Foot and the future of golf.

Will Bryson DeChambeau change the game? What is the role of mentors in golf? How much time should a US Open champion spend on YouTube and Instagram looking at golf swings? All that and more on Episode 105 of State of the Game with Geoff Shackelford, Geoff Ogilvy and Mike Clayton. Links menitoned on this episode: Sandy Jamieson's brilliant 1Club (https://1club.golf)concept The TalkinGolf Network (https://talkingolf.com) The Thing About Golf (https://talkingolf.com/show/the-thing-about-golf/) podcast episode with Karrie Webb Geoff Shackelford on Twitter (https://twitter.com/GeoffShac) and his new Podcast The Shack Show (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vSFNXMzMxODgyNjcyNQ) Mike Clayton on Twitter (https://twitter.com/mikeclaytongolf) Rod Morri on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Rod_Morri)

With professional golf on hold for the foreseeable future only one thing is certain: the pay for play game will look very different on the other side of the Corona Virus pandemic. Can the European Tour survive the current crisis and if not will it be the PGA Tour or the Premier Golf League that becomes its saviour? Just one of the myriad questions pondered when Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri are joined by sports business expert Richard Gillis on Episode 104 of State of the Game. Links mentioend on this episode: Geoff Shackelford on Twitter (https://twitter.com/GeoffShac) and his new Podcast The Shack Show (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vSFNXMzMxODgyNjcyNQ) Mike Clayton on Twitter (https://twitter.com/mikeclaytongolf) Rod Morri on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Rod_Morri) Richard Gillis on Twitter (https://twitter.com/RichardGillis1) and the excellent Unofficial Partner (https://www.unofficialpartner.com/podcast) Podcast

It's all anybody's talking about. Including us. The Corona Virus has touched every facet of life, golf included, and is going to do so for the foreseeable future. What does it mean for professional and recreational golf? Who knows? Certainly not Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri but we chat about it anyway.

Finally. That's been the predominant response to the Distance Insights Report released earlier this week, a document that may well change the shape of the game for decades to come. Among the most vocal agitators for action on this issue for the past two decades have been Mike Clayton and Geoff Shackelford and on Ep 102 they have their say on the report and what it means.

Not for the first time a World Golf Tour has been proposed with the noble intention of having 'the best play against the best more often'. Premier League Golf has been in the planning for several years and many of the world's top players have admitted to being interested. But can the PGA Tour put a stop to it and if not what would that mean for the Tour and the rest of world golf? Join Geoff Shackelford - the journalist who broke the story - Mike Clayton and Rod Morri as they ponder the potential fallout.

It was exactly eight years ago today we released Episode One of 'The golf podcast that talks about stuff that matters' and 100 shows later has anything really changed in the game? The answer - as always - is both yes and no. There are dozens more golf podcasts to choose from, 'fan media' is apparently a thing and both the European and PGA Tours have different leaders. But the ball still goes too far, lots of players still don't 'get it' and Mike Clayton is still - despite what Miguel Angel Jimenez might say - the most interesting man in golf (as well as being among its greatest contributors). Episode 100 is not a look back show but if you're in the market for an interesting experiment head to the link below and have a listen to that first episode and you'll hear many of the same themes resonate in the game in 2020. Links for this episode: Network sponsor The Golf Society (https://www.thegolfsociety.com.au/pages/talkingolf) The debut episode of State of the Game (https://stateofthegame.fireside.fm/1)

State of the Game co-host Mike Clayton has some very special news to share on episode 99 of the show. After almost 10 years alongside Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking and Ashley Mead in the OCCM design firm the former European Tour player has departed the company in search of new opportunities. First up is an announcement that he will be a collaborative partner with two of the world's best known and most highly respected designers, Frank Pont and Mike DeVries, in a new venture called CDP Golf. The trio join Rod Morri on this special edition of the show to lay out how the partnership came to be and what they plan to do in the future. Links mentioned on this episode: Our Network Sponsor, The Golf Society (https://www.thegolfsociety.com.au/pages/talkingolf) The new CDP Golf (http://www.cdpgolf.com) website Mike Clayton's new website (https://www.claytongolf.com.au) Frank Pont's Infinite Variety Golf Design (https://www.infinitevarietygolf.com) website Mike DeVries' website (http://devriesdesigns.com) CDP Golf on Twi

Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and host Rod Morri delve into recent happenings in the world of golf and analyse what it means for the bigger picture. From the distance debate (of course) and changes in the PGA Tour schedule to whether a $15 million payday is off putting and is the LPGA playing courses that are too easy? All that comes under the microscope as well as Brandel Chamblee's surprise switch of position back to advocating for bifurcation of the professional and amateur game. Links mentioned on this podcast: Titleist VP of Marketing Michael Mahoney on the Golf Unfiltered podcast (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9nb2xmdW5maWx0ZXJlZC5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw&episode=NjRhOTk2ZTBiNTU4NDZkZGE4NTViODYxNGVlZWJiZWY&hl=en-AU&ep=6&at=1567472809735) (the distance discussion starts around the 33 minute mark) Mike Clayton on Bradley Hughes' podcast: Part One (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9icmFkbGV5aHVnaGVzZ29sZi5ibHVicnJ5Lm5ldC9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qv&episode=aHR0cHM6Ly9icmFkbGV5aHVnaGVzZ29sZi5ibH

The success of Royal Portrush, Xander Schauffele and the driver controversy, are the authorities planning to do something about the ball in the autumn and why you can't say anything bad about Memphis. All that and more in episode 97 of State of the Game. Links mentioend on this episode: Geoff's story on the Distance Report (https://golfweek.com/2019/07/17/golf-distance-report-martin-slumbers-technology-driven-game/?utm_source=smg&utm_medium=wasabi&utm_content=home-latest-news) Mark Giannotto's passionate defence of the Memphis tournament (https://golfweek.com/2019/07/23/golf-wgc-fedex-st-jude-invitational-means-more-to-memphis-than-to-the-world/) Kyle Porter's Tweet (https://twitter.com/KylePorterCBS/status/1152630116830384128) that started the controversy

There is much excitement among architecture types about next week's Irish Open at the famed Lahinch in County Clare. Tournament host Paul McGinley joins Episode 96 of the show to explain how he plans to take the event back to the future making the on-site experience one that far exceeds watching on TV. The 2014 Ryder Cup captain says tournament goers can expect a festival atmosphere in the tiny town of Lahinch as the entire week will be a celebration of the game. Special Guest: Paul McGinley.

As the Old Course is to Scotland so Pebble Beach is to America and a US Open on the Monterey Peninsula is something a bit special. Join Pebble beach devotee Geoff Shackelford alongside Mike Clayton and Rod Morri for a breakdown of what role the course might play at this week's 119th US Open as well as some discussion on the Hank Haney controversy from last week's US Women's Open and what the fallout might mean in the bigger picture. Links mentioned on this episode: Geoff Shackelford's story from sectional qualifying (https://golfweek.com/2019/06/03/golf-chun-an-yu-stewart-hagestad-u-s-open-sectional-newport-beach/) Geoff Sackelford's piece on the importance of the 1929 US Amateur (https://golfweek.com/2019/06/07/shackelford-1929-u-s-amateur-had-enormous-golf-pebble-beach/) at Pebble Beach

It always promised to be an interesting experiment and it was. The inaugural State of the Game Golf Course Study Tour to Barnbougle Dunes earlier this month had a bit of everything but, as expected, the highlight was the chance to sit down with Mike Clayton for an 'unplugged' podcast/Q&A session. Clayton touches on everything from how the Barnbougle project got off the ground to stories from the European Tour from the 80's and 90's. Its everything you'd expect it to be and more and if you missed out on this one hopefully this episode helps convince you what a mistake you made and to come along for the next one! Links mentioend on this episode: Barnbougle Dunes (https://barnbougle.com.au) The Fried Egg podcast with Allan Jamieson (https://thefriedegg.podbean.com/e/episode-133-the-california-golf-club/) The Golf Travel Agency (https://www.thegolftravelagency.com.au) who made the whole trip possibe and get the State of the Game tick of approval.

With the PGA Championship set to return to the Bethpage Black course in New York next week there will be plenty of discussion about course design AW Tillinghast. While known mostly as a course architect, Tillinghast had many more strings to his bow including a well known - though little understood - tour of the US during the depression years to advise courses on more financially sustainable management practises. What is less known is the extensive records he kept of that period and PGA Historian Bob Denney joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri on Episode 93 to delve into the life and times of one of the game's great contributors. Links: Geoff Shackelford on Twitter (https://twitter.com/GeoffShac) Mike Clayton on Twitter (https://twitter.com/MichaelClayto15) Rod Morri on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Rod_Morri) Special Guest: Bob Denney.