Ep63: Australian Open...What's Going On?? Nicks Top 100 Course Criteria; & Mark Reviews PK South.

Talk Birdie To Me

This week, Nick and Mark are flying solo, every chance this could go pear-shaped. No time to worry about that, cos Mark has info on the Golf Digest Top 100 that he wasn't aware of last week, and he feels sheds further light on the rankings. If you haven't heard our bonus pod with the head honcho of the Top 100, Steve Keipert, worth checking out. Mark asks Nick to outline if he were doing what Steve does, what parameters would he use. Nick agrees with Steve that a criteria is important, and he talks through what his criteria might be.

Nick and Mark discuss Pine Valley. Nick has never played it, but has heard it described as a 'beast'. Mark gives Nick homework to watch the drone flyover video, it's fantastic, check it out here. You might recall last week, Mark was going to play Cathedral, however the trip was cancelled due to heavy fog. Instead, he played Peninsula Kingswood South, and gives a review of the course. Short version. He loved it.

Nick and Mark discuss Rory McIlroy's win at Quail Hollow, a fantastic performance from the superstar. Nick shares his mixed memories of that course.

Mark gives an Australian Open update, which is that there is none. No state, no course, nothing locked in, state governments being frustrating. We discuss how much it would cost to ensure it's not an Australian Open 'light'. And Mark says whilst it's a big golf story, how long until it becomes a big sports story in this country. Nick and Mark discuss where it could/should be.

Mark poses his 'everyday playability' question to Nick and wants him to choose between Tara Iti or Royal Melbourne West. Nick asks for some time to consider, he'll answer at the end of the pod. And controversy in the PING global results when Nick suggests he has found a music piece to rival the intro we use. We'll play it at the end of the pod today, or see the video here.

If you have played Cottesloe recently, Nick and Mark want your feedback on how the house plays with the trees removed. Better? Worse? Top 5 from Mark on things he loves about Rory. Most are great, one is ridiculous. Nick adds 2 things he’d like Rory to change. And Mark then reveals a juicy rumour he's heard about the Strategic Sports Groups PGA investment.

We wrap the show with a masterclass from Nick on hitting a flyer effectively.

A huge thanks to our Talk Birdie partners:

• PING, they'll help you play your best, you can see your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;
• the new watchMynumbers app, the most powerful data based golf app in the world, download from the App Store ;
• & the Golf Clearance Outlet, great prices on the best gear. See them in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, or online here.

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