Discussion

The Thing About Golf #41: Curtis Strange

He’s remembered by most – and rightly so – for his two US Open wins, but Curtis Strange’s achievements in the game go far beyond that. A Ryder Cup player and captain, one time holder of the course record at The Old Course at St Andrews and a not infrequent visitor to Australia, he is a thoughtful and eloquent speaker about the game. In this broad ranging chat, John Huggan explores one of the most interesting careers of the modem era with a player regarded as one of the most competitive ever to pick up a club.

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The Thing About Golf #40: David Greenhill

Since its inception nine years ago the combined men’s and women’s Vic Open has been a roaring success on all fronts. Now an LPGA and European Tour event, it would have been all but impossible to predict just how big the tournament would get when it was first conceived by then acting Golf Victoria CEO David Greenhill. While quick to (rightfully) credit others with the eventual success of the event, none of it would have happened without Greenhill’s vision. On Episode 40, Greenhill reflects on how an idea which came to him while walking the dog morphed into one of the most talked about tournament in the world.

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The Thing About Golf #39: R&A chief Martin Slumbers

In the world of golf administration there is no more important role than Chief Executive of the R&A. Former London-based businessman Martin Slumbers was appointed to that role in 2015 and has quietly set about evolving the culture at the organisation to something more in keeping with modern society. A lifetime golfer with an understanding of the game at the grass roots level, he has demonstrated a capacity for innovative thought in his six years in the job to date and, as he reveals to John Huggan in Episode 39, there is more to come.

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The Thing About Golf #38: Matt Millar

At the age of 46 Matt Millar is an anomaly in the modern professional game. Despite being one of the shortest hitters on the PGA Tour of Australasia he remains a competitive force in fields of much younger – and more powerful – players. A combination of great accuracy and an enviable short game explain much of his success but as Millar himself admits in this chat, the real key is mental.

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The Thing About Golf #37: Nick Price

Of all the players who have ascended to World No.1 since the rankings began in 1986, Zimbabwe’s Nick Price is the one who attracts the least attention. Universally regarded as one of the best ball-strikers of his generation, Price’s distinctive swing saw him hold the top position for 43 weeks. With three majors to his name and as a two time Presidents Cup Captain, there isn’t much Price hasn’t seen or done in the game. This is a captivating chat with John Huggan, which covers everything from modern equipment, winning majors and life in Zimbabwe in the 1960’s and 70’s.

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The Thing About Golf #36: Mat Goggin

There isn’t much Mat Goggin hasn’t done in the game of golf, from Australian Amateur champion to professional tournament winner.
But what makes the Tasmanian such a compelling interview is that his interests are broader than just the game. An intelligent and articulate speaker who is widely read, Goggin often gives unexpected answers to seemingly simple questions and always keeps the listener – and interviewer – on their toes.
Now in his mid-forties and heavily involved in the Seven Mile Beach development in Hobart, it would be easy to assume Goggin’s playing days are over. But as you’ll hear from the wisdom dispensed in this interview, that would be a real shame both for Goggin and for fans of the game.
One final note: whether before or after listening to this episode it is also recommended to read the blog post linked below. In it, Goggin explains some of his beginnings in the game and how the Seven Mile Beach project came to be. It is a wonderful accompaniment to our chat and also helps to answer that opening question: What’s The Thing About Golf for Mat Goggin?
https://7milegolf.wordpress.com/2021/02/14/10-years-and-counting/

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The Thing About Golf #35: Dame Laura Davies

For more than 30 years Laura Davies has been a breath of fresh air in the game. A combination of prodigious length and attacking play has delivered 85 professional victories but it is her down to earth nature and sense of humour which has endeared Davies to fellow players and fans alike. In this wide-ranging discussion with John Huggan, the World Golf Hall of Famer is typically forthright on all topics from pros using hybrids (hint: not a fan) to the importance of the Solheim Cup.

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The Thing About Golf #34: Volunteer, Sue Thomson

Luckily for the game of golf there are people like Sue Thomson – one of the army of unsung heroes upon whom the game relies around the world. Sue is the junior coordinator at Perth’s Mt Lawley Golf Club, but the title hardly conveys the impact she makes. We first heard of Sue through Australia’s most recent major winner, Hannah Green. Long before she holed that extraordinary putt on the 18th green at Hazeltine, Green told host Rod Morri: “if it wasn’t for Sue Thompson, I wouldn’t even play golf.” Morri immediately wanted to meet this woman. And so he did… now you can too.

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The Thing About Golf #33: Tom Callahan

Tom Callahan is one of the best all-round sports writers in the world. Golf has been lucky to have such a fine wordsmith, with a genuine love for the game, witness its biggest moments and tell the stories of champions. In a career spanning five decades, he's has had enough experiences to last a few…

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The Thing About Golf #33: Author, Tom Callahan

Tom Callahan is one of the best all-round sports writers in the world. Golf has been lucky to have such a fine wordsmith, with a genuine love for the game, witness its biggest moments and tell the stories of champions. In a career spanning five decades, he’s has had enough experiences to last a few life times from having Ben Hogan critique his swing, to Arnold Palmer making him drinks to trekking through a Vietnam jungle looking for the family of Tiger Phong, the soldier after whom Earl Woods nicknamed his son. In this episode to close out 2020 for The Thing About Golf podcast, host John Huggan chats with Callahan about his colourful career that has included working as a columnist for The Washington Post, long-form writing for Time magazine and authoring best-sellers like In Search Of Tiger and Arnie: The Life Of Arnold Palmer among others. And it shouldn’t surprise that he apart from writing good stories, he tells good ones as well.

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