Podcast by Colin and Ross
26 March 2026
In this episode of Both Sides of Par, Ross takes Colin behind the scenes of a visit to the European headquarters of Srixon. From walking into a building covered in a giant image of Shane Lowry to seeing signed tour bags from Hideki Matsuyama, the experience felt like a golfer’s version of Willy Wonka’s factory.
Ross shares what actually happens inside a professional custom-fitting facility: how shafts, grips, and club heads are selected, how swing characteristics affect the build, and how thousands of custom orders from across Europe are assembled every week. The conversation dives into the surprising amount of detail that goes into matching a golf club to a player’s swing, from shaft stiffness and length to lie angles and materials.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens after a club fitting—or how tour-level equipment gets built—this episode pulls back the curtain on the process and the people behind it.
00:00
39:01
05 March 2026
This week on Both Sides of Par, Colin and Ross explore what really happens to your golf game during the winter months — and why the cold, wet season might actually be your biggest opportunity to improve.
From course closures and muddy fairways to the unseen importance of drainage systems, they unpack why some courses survive heavy weather while others struggle. There’s also a deeper look at how course design and maintenance influence play far more than most golfers appreciate.
Alongside that, they discuss smart ways to practice when conditions aren’t ideal, and how focusing on the right areas now can pay off massively when spring arrives.
If you’ve ever wondered why your local course floods, why temporary greens appear, or how to keep progressing when the weather’s against you — this episode is packed with insight, realism, and practical takeaways.
00:00
01:07:54
26 February 2026
In this episode of Both Sides of Par, Colin and Ross tackle the realities of winter golf in the UK - relentless rain, course closures, and why some layouts cope far better than others.
They dive into the often-overlooked science of golf course drainage, sharing insights from a greenkeeper’s perspective and exploring why what’s beneath your feet matters more than most golfers realise.
Plus, they get into this week’s practice focus, discussing how everyday golfers can make meaningful improvements even when the weather (and the course conditions) aren’t playing ball.
Whether you’re battling clay-based fairways or lucky enough to play on free-draining sand, this episode is all about understanding the game beyond the scorecard - and finding ways to keep progressing, whatever your handicap.
00:00
52:33
12 February 2026
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Thanks!
On today's episode:
Colin and Ross kick off the episode with Colin sharing his exciting move to Muir of Ord Golf Course on the Black Isle. He's particularly drawn to their winter tournament series—a weekly Sunday competition running through the coldest months where players accumulate Stableford points for a season trophy. The course itself sounds like a gem, with two distinct halves separated by a railway track: one side relatively flat with interesting tree-lined doglegs, the other featuring dramatic elevation changes including two par threes with 50-100 foot drops and one hole that climbs back up, leaving Colin baffled about club selection even though it's barely 100 yards.
The conversation shifts to Ross's recent revelation about practice quality. After struggling with consistency despite logging plenty of range hours, he's discovered that hitting 30-40 intentional shots beats mindlessly working through 100 balls. This sparks a discussion about the SimStick—a simple but effective training aid that's been helping both hosts work on swing path and strike quality. They compare it to alternatives like the Divot Board and Tour Striker Smart Ball, debating the merits of each for different aspects of practice. Colin admits he's still getting value from working through strike issues with his irons, while Ross emphasizes how the SimStick provides immediate feedback without the faff of more complex training tools.
The episode wraps with a chat about golf balls (Colin's experiment with Srixon Q-Star Divide's half-orange, half-yellow design mostly taught him that new balls just feel nice, even if they don't actually perform differently), before Ross shares two fantastic competition opportunities in Cornwall. Both are on Sunday, May 24th: an open at the stunning coastal Carlion Bay for just £27, and a 36-hole better ball at West Cornwall Golf Club in St Ives for £120 per pair. The lads make a compelling case for a spring golf trip to England's southwest corner.
00:00 Introduction and welcome
03:30 Colin's new club at Muir of Ord
08:45 Winter tournament format and course description
15:20 Muir of Ord's dramatic elevation changes
19:10 Ross's practice quality breakthrough
26:35 SimStick training aid discussion
34:50 Comparing training aids: SimStick vs Divot Board vs Smart Ball
41:15 Golf ball chat and Srixon Q-Star Divide experiment
45:00 Cornwall competitions: Carlion Bay and West Cornwall Golf Club
00:00
47:30
05 February 2026
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Thanks!
Colin and Ross kick off with another cracking competition find – a three-person team event at Cleveland Golf Club in Yorkshire that has Colin planning a road trip from Newcastle to Edinburgh. Both lads are sporting their new Druids ambassador gear and share first impressions (spoiler: impressed, especially for the price). Colin finally retired his 20-year-old Cleveland Launcher after his son broke it, and a trip to the local shop turned into a TaylorMade Stealth purchase – the numbers were just too good to ignore, even if it didn't feel quite as sweet as the QI 35. Ross, meanwhile, is fully committed to Ping life and loving his G430 LST driver after some early teething issues.
The practice chat is gold this week. Ross put Episode 4's mental game advice into real action during a one-under round, proving that staying calm mid-wobble actually works. Colin discovered through impact stickers that he's been addressing his driver wrong for years – a simple six-inch step back fixed his heel strikes entirely. Ross talks speed training progress (174 ball speed, not bad), and they wrap up chatting about watching golf on TV. Full Swing gets a strong recommendation if you haven't seen it yet.
🟢 Colin tests two drivers in-store and goes with feel vs numbers – the TaylorMade Stealth wins despite not feeling as "sweet" because it added 20 yards
🟢 Ross applies the mental game strategies from Episode 4 during a real round and shoots one under, proving the mindset work actually pays off
🟢 Impact stickers reveal Colin's been hitting off the heel for years – a simple setup change fixes it instantly
🟢 Both hosts unbox their Druids ambassador packs and share honest first impressions on quality vs price
🟢 Speed training update: Ross is back up to 174 ball speed and 118.5 club head speed after some winter rust
🟢 Cleveland Golf Club, Yorkshire – the only true natural links in Yorkshire, bookable online https://www.clevelandgolfclub.co.uk
🟢 Happy Golf – competition search tool Ross used to find the three-person event https://www.happygolf.co.uk
🟢 Druids Golf – affordable golf clothing brand, ambassador packs available https://www.druidsgolf.com
🟢 TaylorMade Stealth Driver – Colin's new driver purchase with adjustable weight and loft
🟢 TaylorMade QI 35 Driver – tested but not purchased, very forgiving feel
🟢 Ping G430 LST Driver – Ross's current driver choice
🟢 Ping G425 3-Wood – Ross's fairway wood, highly recommended
🟢 Inverness Golf Centre – local shop with Trackman fitting bay
🟢 How Did I Do – online booking system used by many UK golf clubs https://www.howdidido.com
🟢 Impact Stickers – strike location training aid for club faces
🟢 Trackman – launch monitor used for fitting and speed training
🟢 Therabands – resistance bands for golf warm-up and flexibility
🟢 Full Swing (Netflix) – golf documentary series, highly recommended https://www.netflix.com/title/81483353
🟢 Golfing Gray YouTube Channel – Colin's channel with Druids unboxing video coming soon
🟢 Cleveland Golf Club – Redcar, Yorkshire
The only true natural links course in Yorkshire, right on the waterfront. Ross found this three-person team event perfect for Colin's family golf trip with his dad and brother.
Format: Three-person team event
Cost: £22 per visitor
Booking: Online via How Did I Do through the club website
Access: Two train changes from Inverness, one change from most mainline stations. Airbnb options available nearby including beachfront accommodation.
00:00 Welcome to Both Sides of Par
00:50 Competition Challenge: Finding a Three-Person Team Event
03:30 Planning a Golf Road Trip: Cleveland to Edinburgh
05:25 Druids Ambassador Pack Unboxing and First Impressions
10:50 Colin's Driver Upgrade: TaylorMade Stealth vs QI 35
18:15 Ross's Ping G430 LST Driver Update
21:50 Mental Game Breakthrough: Staying Calm Mid-Round
27:45 Tiger Woods' "Box" Technique for Managing Emotions
30:00 Putting Practice Games and Scoring Systems
31:05 Impact Stickers: Finding Your Strike Pattern
35:45 Speed Training Progress and Trackman Sessions
39:40 Watching Golf on TV: What's Worth Your Time
43:15 Full Swing Netflix Documentary Recommendation
45:30 The PGA vs LIV Discussion
50:40 Listener Feedback Request and Outro
00:00
51:48
29 January 2026
Let us know what you want from the show! Email us at hello@bothpar.com, as tell us:
Thanks!
Colin and Ross brave the Scottish winter to discuss everything from broken driver faces to AI-powered golf coaches. Colin shares his experience switching from TaylorMade to Ping after his QI35 driver gave up the ghost (again), while Ross opens up about creative ways to practice when you're snowed in. The duo dives deep into golf technology—from rangefinders and GPS watches to AI swing analysis apps that could change how you practice. Plus, Ross shares a brilliant story about staying in the Gary Player Suite at Carnoustie for just £50, and they discuss why measuring outcomes beats obsessing over swing mechanics.
Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome & Weather Update
03:30 - Carnoustie Course Review & The £50 Gary Player Suite Story
08:50 - New Club Review: Switching from TaylorMade to Ping
18:45 - Winter Practice Tips & Putting Mat Games
26:30 - Golf Tech on the Course: Rangefinders, Watches & Apps
34:30 - AI in Golf: Caddies, Rules & Swing Analysis Apps
41:30 - Competition Corner: Team Events Worth Entering
46:45 - Wrap-Up
00:00
46:05