The 10 best golf podcasts to listen to
Nowadays, there’s a podcast out there for pretty much every
topic you can think of. In fact, there are so many it can be hard to know which
ones to listen to.
Golf podcasts are the ultimate down-time listening for those who just can’t get enough of the game. They’re also more important to the modern game than we sometimes give them credit for. Headline quotes are often plucked from golf podcast interviews, and the leading players know that to reach larger audiences, they need to play ball with the best golf podcasts.
So, it’s a win-win for both the creators and the listeners. Instead of two-minute post-round soundbites, we get treated to proper in-depth chats with more candid opinions and insight.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the best golf podcasts available to listen to—each offering something different and fresh.
The 10 best golf podcasts
In no particular order…
1. Cookie Jar Golf Podcast
Cookie Jar Golf describes its podcast as a ‘British take on
current affairs in the world of golf—some of it interesting, most of it not,’
which gives you an idea of the self-deprecating nature of much of the content.
These guys are proper golf enthusiasts who venture to many
great courses, including the lesser-known ones. This podcast will educate and
entertain in equal measure, and by listening, you’ll give yourself a far better
understanding of where your next golf trip might be.
The podcast, which is now well past the 250-episode mark, is available on all major platforms, and there are some beautifully shot films over on YouTube, too. It’s complemented by a website that delves further into the pro and amateur games, course architecture, and golf trips.
2. The Rick Shiels Golf Show Podcast
You’re probably very new to the game if you’re unfamiliar
with Rick Shiels.
The PGA Professional has almost three million YouTube followers, and his relatively new golf podcast is fast growing. The beauty of Shiels is his normality and ability to get the most out of his guests without making it about himself. The podcast is co-hosted by his friend Guy Charnock, who is similarly down-to-earth, and it covers all aspects of the game—from tour and club golf, equipment reviews, and instruction to high-level interviews that answer the questions many of us often pose ourselves.
3. Sky Sports Golf Podcast
Sky Sports is a familiar friend to the UK golf viewer, and its
golf podcast, generally hosted by Josh Antmann, is a solid way of keeping
abreast of what’s going on in the world of tournament golf.
Two aspects make this one stand out: the ability to react immediately
to the weekend’s action and to be able to do so in a fun way. Antmann is
regularly joined by the Sky Sports Golf crowd, where we get to see another side
to the experts, as well as journalists and leading players.
Given Sky’s clout and contact book, you can often expect to see the most recent winner on Tour call in for a chat.
4. Fried Egg Golf and Shotgun Start Podcast
If you’re a traditionalist of the game and a bit of a golf
nerd, then this is the podcast for you.
Andy Johnson is a fascinating and engaging character who approaches
the game from a different angle. He’s also very ably assisted by Brendan Porath
as well as other similarly like-minded characters.
Fried Egg Golf is best known for its take on golf course architecture, which it does better than most. This has helped many of us to appreciate and understand the courses we visit on bucket-list trips. Shotgun Start is a three-times-a-week output that rounds up the current news as well as more quirky stories.
5. GOLF’s Subpar Podcast
This is a relatively new addition to the top tier of Tour
podcasts, but its high-quality content and interviews have already created
plenty of great soundbites and headlines.
It’s hosted by former PGA Tour player Colt Knost—who was part of the famous 2007 Walker Cup side, which also numbered Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Billy Horschel—and his friend and fellow player Drew Stoltz. The podcast is associated with GOLF.com and boasts outstanding insight and connections as a result.
The podcast’s irreverent tone helps to relax the big names, and we get to hear and see a different side to some of the biggest in the game. It also manages to attract caddies and other golfing celebrities, so it is well worth a listen.
6. The Stripe Show Podcast
Travis Fulton was a golf instructor on the Golf Channel and is
now the host of The Stripe Show.
Where the Fried Egg should be one of your first ports of
call for golf course architecture chat, this is where you should head for analysis
of the golf swing. For example, if you want to truly get your head around what
Scottie Scheffler is doing through the ball, then here is a good start.
Fulton also reviews equipment, speaks to leading coaches, and offers mini lessons and Q&A videos to help the weekend warriors get their handicaps down. There’s also a betting angle with weekly tips if that’s your thing.
7. Local Knowledge Podcast
Local Knowledge is a Golf Digest production that offers something different from its peers. Hosts Alex Myers, Keely Levins, and Sam Weinman explore some of the better-known and sometimes more quirky stories from years gone by.
The podcast covers historic moments, golfing culture, and
profiles from some of the most interesting characters in the game. This is
storytelling at its best and provides a welcome and useful history lesson on
some of the biggest tragedies, gaffes, and moments of brilliance in golf.
It’s well worth a trawl through the archives for a comprehensive review of the modern and historic game.
8. The Chipping Forecast
There’s a lot to like about this offering from Andrew Cotter
and Eddie Pepperell, as well as their ‘guest’, the BBC’s Iain Carter, who is also
a permanent fixture on the podcast.
For a self-deprecating look at the modern game, Pepperell
would be high on many people’s lists, while Cotter is maybe the most irreverent
commentator in sport. Then, you have Carter, who is perfectly measured and has
a sound, all-round grasp of what’s happening in the game.
Part of a podcast’s success is the chemistry between its hosts, and these three clearly get on as they tackle both the fun and the important. Some of its best parts are Pepperell’s insights into life on Tour and all that goes with it.
9. Fore Play
Barstool Sports is a US-based digital media company and blog
that publishes sports journalism and pop culture content. It is well-known for
its comedy and satire, and the Fore Play podcast is its golfing output.
They’re well on their way to half a million YouTube
subscribers, and you’ll likely already be familiar with the names Riggs (Sam
Bozoian), Frankie Borrelli, Trent Ryan, and Dan Rapaport.
These guys have plenty of clout—so much so that even Tiger Woods interacts with them. Their charm comes mainly from the sense that they are you and I—golfing nuts who struggle with the game but are obsessed with it anyway—and the podcast reflects that in its style.
10. No Laying Up
Many would rank this as one of the best golf podcasts, if not the best, and it’s easy to see why.
It’s hosted by Chris Solomon, who is joined by D.J.
Piehowski, Tron, Neil Schuster, Big Randy, and Kevin van Valkenburg. Together,
the group offers brilliant content on all forms of the game.
No Laying Up gathered real notoriety when it first attracted
all the big names to come on and show themselves in a different light. Their
best work, though, arguably involves their daily Major shows, where they break
down the events of the day, all with a different voice and approach.
The podcast also covers women’s golf in depth, and the guys certainly aren’t afraid to try new things. Its regular output includes longer features and listens and deeper dives into famous moments from the past.
*The golf podcasts mentioned in this blog are available across all the major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Many are also available directly via the individual podcast or outlet websites.
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